Comments on: Fighting the passions http://www.hitchhikersguide.org/2008/03/20/fighting-the-passions/ the journey forward to the ancient roots of our faith Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:01:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt http://www.hitchhikersguide.org/2008/03/20/fighting-the-passions/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Matt Fri, 21 Mar 2008 17:05:20 +0000 http://www.hitchhikersguide.org/2008/03/20/fighting-the-passions/#comment-34 I dunno about saying "You're not anything yet." You're a catechumen in the Orthodox Church. If you were to die today, you could receive an Orthodox funeral (side story: we actually had a catechumen at my parish die recently; she received an Orthodox funeral...at least, as much as we were able to do due to her family's opposition). I think that's <i>something</i>. Anyway, I hear ya' about the "slowness of grace," as Fr. Stephen puts it. It's tough; I wanna be better *now*! At the same time, I can sort of begin to possibly start to realize the wisdom there. If i were to suddenly be relieved of all the passions I struggle with currently, I'm pretty sure vainglory would just take their place. Heck, I prove myself unworthy of the grace I've already been given every day! Also, in line with your post, our pastor the other day was talking about St. Silouan, who received an abundance of grace in his early life. Then, a spiritual father made a comment of praise to St. Silouan, and I guess his vanity was aroused, because he immediately lost that grace he'd been given. He labored ascetically for 15 years before receiving it again. I dunno about saying “You’re not anything yet.” You’re a catechumen in the Orthodox Church. If you were to die today, you could receive an Orthodox funeral (side story: we actually had a catechumen at my parish die recently; she received an Orthodox funeral…at least, as much as we were able to do due to her family’s opposition). I think that’s something.

Anyway, I hear ya’ about the “slowness of grace,” as Fr. Stephen puts it. It’s tough; I wanna be better *now*! At the same time, I can sort of begin to possibly start to realize the wisdom there. If i were to suddenly be relieved of all the passions I struggle with currently, I’m pretty sure vainglory would just take their place. Heck, I prove myself unworthy of the grace I’ve already been given every day!

Also, in line with your post, our pastor the other day was talking about St. Silouan, who received an abundance of grace in his early life. Then, a spiritual father made a comment of praise to St. Silouan, and I guess his vanity was aroused, because he immediately lost that grace he’d been given. He labored ascetically for 15 years before receiving it again.

]]> By: Erik http://www.hitchhikersguide.org/2008/03/20/fighting-the-passions/comment-page-1/#comment-33 Erik Fri, 21 Mar 2008 12:46:23 +0000 http://www.hitchhikersguide.org/2008/03/20/fighting-the-passions/#comment-33 Thank you for sharing that. A piece of writing that's been incredibly helpful/significant for me on this sort of thing has been "On Perfection" by Gregory of Nyssa, it's worth a look. also, I had the amusing quasi-theological realization yesterday regarding instant-response to prayer. Jesus died on friday and resurrected on sunday, God himself needed to be patient in the realization of relief. Thank you for sharing that.

A piece of writing that’s been incredibly helpful/significant for me on this sort of thing has been “On Perfection” by Gregory of Nyssa, it’s worth a look.

also, I had the amusing quasi-theological realization yesterday regarding instant-response to prayer. Jesus died on friday and resurrected on sunday, God himself needed to be patient in the realization of relief.

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