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The Evergetinos: Book Two - Part XXXV, Part I

Philokalia Ministries

Synopsis Of Tonight’s Group on The Evergetinos Volume II Hypothesis XXXV Section A paragraphs 1-5: “One should never become angry or shout at anyone. An irascible man, even if he should raise the dead is not acceptable before God!” Such thoughts from the fathers already set the tone of this hypothesis and begin to challenge our sensibilities; the way that we deal with annoyances, direct attacks against ourselves or the faith or in a broader way the way the way we deal with violence in the world. What is the role, the place, of the Christian in an age of such vindictiveness and hostility to the other? How can we not only avoid being drawn into the passion of anger and move to the defensive position but also love as Christ loves? How does Christ’s meekness and gentleness shape the way that we engage others? So often our ego leads us to hold onto things with a tight grip. This includes our opinions and judgments as well as material goods. Have our hearts been formed with such humility that we can drop our position when a discussion tends towards anger or can we leave behind the work of our own hands the circumstances are such that if we do not abandon it we will be drawn into conflict? In other words, do we place the things of this world or our own dignity and sense of self-respect above the love and the gentleness of Christ? It is only in the silence of prayer, prolonged and unmeasured, that the grace of God frees us from our own ego. Only by experiencing the profound love, compassion, mercy, and understanding that we have received from God will a spirit of gratitude well up within us. It is then that we are compelled to love. What could we possibly lose that we would not gain back a hundredfold in Christ? If we have been made sons and daughters of God and if we live in the Spirit that has been given to us and we should fear nothing. And where there is no fear - there is only love! --- Text of chat during the group: 00:09:17 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 269 New Hypothesis 00:13:21 Andrew Adams: Yes, you can shut off things like whiteboard in Zoom. 00:13:35 Bob Čihák, AZ: P 269 New Hypothesis 35 00:13:39 Adam Paige: Reacted to "Yes, you can shut of…" with 👍 00:26:44 Andrew Zakhari: I think of individuals who continue to engage in a work culture despite it deadening people's souls in bitterness. It is easy to stay for financial reasons, not realizing how such work is damaging. 00:28:37 Jonathan Grobler: If it wasn't for online engagement, I would never have joined the Catholic church. I'm always worried, that by not engaging, it's a missed opportunity to plant a seed of the Gospel. 00:30:59 Bob Čihák, AZ: My work was with 3 partners. Sometimes, after a "warm" 20 min. discussion, I would abruptly say "You've convinced me. I agree. Let's do it the way you suggest." and I meant it. My partners would look like the wind just wend out of their sails. 00:36:12 Catherine Opie: Reacted to "My work was with 3 p..." with ❤️ 00:39:25 Catherine Opie: Fr. I have just spent 7 days with my family who relentlessly asked me questions and challenged me on my Catholicism (since I recently converted). Culminating in my brother (who was fuming the whole time) let it rip at me in a really irrational way. How do I handle this? Just say I'm not wiling to talk about it or should I continue to respond, not in like manner but in a rational manner of course? As I seem to be causing him to become angry I'm leaning towards just saying nothing as I'm a hopeless evangeliser anyway being so fresh to this. 00:42:55 Myles Davidson: Order of the Eastern star 00:43:05 Anthony: Order of the Eastern Star 00:44:54 annalalonde: From the desert fathers perspective, how would would break those satanic occult roots from family and generations? Especially gender ideology, yoga, sins of flesh, and masonic… 00:45:23 annalalonde: With one that has anger… what does the desert fathers share how to rid of this? 00:55:16 Maureen Cunningham: Is it not what Jesus says mor