Philokalia

... all of this.

Read the Philokalia for the first time.

Um, then went to some seminars on Eastern spirituality, and then started bit by bit to pick up some of the other writers.

I discovered some afresh when I was doing this, this, this book.

[gentle music]

And now for the Philokalia.

Take your weekly spiritual dose and reflect on the words of our holy meptic fathers.

"Spiritual freedom is released from the passions.

And I was wondering if you could speak to the spiritual battle of encountering the devil and the relationship with lust right now.

So many beautiful fathers, whether it's in the Philokalia or our modern-day elders, I point to them because they're on my wall back here in the church.

They remind us, they warn us against the different ways the demon of lust will have rights over us, okay? We're going to go back, demonic oppression, rights over us, okay? And it's so significant, and I'm glad you mentioned this.

They say, and beautiful spiritual fathers, spiritual confessors, they, I mean, I've learned this from at least mine and the other ones I really respect and admire.

And they were asking why this was.

And so Ethan was explaining to them that Evagrius in the first book of the Philokalia says that if you have friends, avoid constant meeting with them.

For if you meet only on rare occasions, you'll be of more help to them.

And if you find that harm comes through meeting them, do not see them at all.

44 was when we started reading the Acts of Thomas.

And so today, we ended up flipping to and actually intentionally choosing the page in Philokalia that we had read in 43, which was the last time we were reading Nakamari.

Thank you.

Editor Edward, are you irritated by how many times you have to respond to me in this episode?

Thank you, Father.

And now, for the Philokalia, take your weekly spiritual dose and reflect on the words of our holy Naptic Fathers.

Search the scriptures and you will find the commandments.

Do what they say and you will be freed from your passions.

But if we endure them patiently by prayer, we shall find again enjoyment in good things." According to Mark the Ascetic, good things can be restored back by endurance and prayers.

For more on Mark the Ascetic, see Philokalia.

The Apostle Paul considers prayer, especially during periods of pains and trials, a continuous and unceasing struggle.

Characteristic is the way he writes to the Corinthians in order to show them how fervently he prayed to the Lord in his affliction and in his physical pain.

Mm-hmm.

Abba Poemen in, in, in the Philokalia, and then tomorrow is Moses of Ethiopia, who I love, and then-

Mm-hmm

...

We're either slaves to Christ or slaves to sin and all of that.

Um, when it looked like I wasn't paying attention, I was looking up a quote.

Uh, one of my-- Because one of my spiritual children and I were talking about this quote recently, and it's Saint Mark the Ascetic, who's one of my favorite in the Philokalia.

And he says, "Do not think about or do anything without a spiritual purpose whereby it is done for God, for if you travel without purpose, you shall labor in vain." And I think that's the answer to...

Thank you.

And now for the Philokalia.

Take your weekly spiritual dose and reflect on the words of our holy Naptic Fathers.

Call upon God to open the eyes of your heart, so that you may see the value of prayer and of spiritual reading when understood and applied.