tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091442667695799295.post2874928364061148282..comments2023-05-18T07:01:57.688-07:00Comments on CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD: THE AGE OF THE GENTILES IS ABOUT OVERChurchofgod-usahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04030715414885317801noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9091442667695799295.post-18103184536027894922017-07-26T07:08:01.608-07:002017-07-26T07:08:01.608-07:00When Thorns Grow Up
Three reasons have been hande...When Thorns Grow Up<br /><br />Three reasons have been handed down by our forebears for this mental barrenness of which you speak. It comes either from our own negligence or from an attack of the devil or as the Lord’s design and trial. It is a question of negligence when, by our fault and due to lukewarmness, we show that we are careless and lax and, having through laziness cultivated the soil of our heart with wicked thoughts, we let germinate thorns and thistles. As these spring up in it, we consequently become barren of every spiritual fruit and devoid of contemplation. It comes from an attack of the devil, however, when the adversary penetrates our mind with his subtle wiles, even sometimes when we are involved in good activities, and either unaware or unwilling we are drawn away from the highest attentiveness.<br /><br />But there is a twofold reason for the design and trial. First, so that, by being forsaken by the Lord for a short while and humbly seeing the frailty of our spirit, we may not become proud because of any previous purity of heart which has been granted us by his visitation; and so that, by proving to us that when we are forsaken by him we cannot regain that condition of joy and purity by any groans and effort of our own, we may understand that even our previous joy of heart was conferred on us not by our own doing but by his condescension, and that present joy must be sought anew from his grace and illumination. The second reason for this trial is to put to the proof our perseverance and steadfastness of mind and our desire, and also to manifest in us with what yearning of heart and earnestness of prayer we must look for the visitation of the Holy Spirit when he has left us. Thus, when we realize how much effort it takes to seek out that spiritual joy and gladness of heart once it has departed, we may strive to guard it more carefully and to hold on to it more attentively once it has been found. For it seems to be the case that whatever is in the habit of being poorly guarded is believed to be able to be easily retrieved.<br /><br />Father John Cassian<br /><br />Father Cassian († 433) brought the monastic wisdom of the Desert Fathers to Gaul (France).David Greg Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16319593179402591856noreply@blogger.com