Delight in the Fight

Temptation is a sign of spiritual health.

The greatest threat to the evil one is the love for God. 

The person who loves God is at the same time mocking the devil.

The devil envies that love because he does not understand it.

Rather than learning from the human how to love God, the devil in his abundant pride, convinces himself of his worth.

"I am an angel, superior to the human. What have I to learn from that which is beneath my rank?"
Here lies the sin of pride.

The devil, in subversion to the love of God seeks to damage that which pleases the Almighty.

The moment a person becomes an adopted child of God through the sacrament of Baptism, they are a target for the enemy.

Do not envy the easy lives of the heathen, for they have their reward now.

But pray and help them always. Abandon them not lest you imitate he that seeks to rid you of your own inheritance.

Be vigilant always, and when temptation arises, rejoice.

Rejoice because it means the treasury of your soul contains something worth stealing, namely the love of God.

“The devil does not hunt after those who are lost; he hunts after those who are aware, those who are close to God. He takes from them trust in god and begins to afflict them with self-assurance, logic, thinking, criticism. Therefore we should not trust our logical minds.” - Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos

Compassion of the Incarnation

Mother Maria of Paris

"The bodies of our fellow human beings must be treated with more care than our own. Christian love teaches us to give our brethren not only spiritual gifts, but material gifts as well. Even our last thirst, our last piece of bread must be given to them. Personal almsgiving and the most wide-ranging social work are equally justifiable and necessary.

The way to God lies through love of other people, and there is no other way. At the Last Judgement I shall not be asked if I was successful in my ascetic exercises or how many prostrations I made in the course of my prayers. I shall be asked, did I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners: that is all I shall be asked." - Mother Maria of Paris

Media Weather

How much of our thoughts are autonomous?

One may know 'how' to discern right from wrong, true from false, but in the pace of life it is easier to accept opinions regardless of their integrity provided that they have peer support.
The person who thinks is apart from their society.
This is a sacrifice one may make.

A sacrifice at the cost of relating with one's fellow people.
What use is 'truth' if it has no utility?
Truth in this sense becomes an academic toy, thought experiments for the eremetic philosopher.



Could it be argued effectively that we are our environment?
The willingness for rational thought is overcome with the desire for easy living.

Liberation from the Captivity of the Mind

Today I was listening to the music of The Byrds, the '60/'70s psychadelic rock group who famously covered Bob Dylan's 'Hey Mr. Tambourine Man' and the song mentioned in this post.

Allowing the music to be steadily piped into my small room in 21st Cent. England, I became distracted by some potent lyrics.

I am not generally a lyrics person, favouring good music over words in nearly every case. Here is an example of where both aspects may be found in equally excellent measure.

Crimson flames tied through my ears

Rollin’ high and mighty traps

Pounced with fire on flaming roads

Using ideas as my maps

“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I

Proud ’neath heated brow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth

“Rip down all hate,” I screamed

Lies that life is black and white

Spoke from my skull. I dreamed

Romantic facts of musketeers

Foundationed deep, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

Girls’ faces formed the forward path

From phony jealousy

To memorizing politics

Of ancient history

Flung down by corpse evangelists

Unthought of, though, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

A self-ordained professor’s tongue

Too serious to fool

Spouted out that liberty

Is just equality in school

“Equality,” I spoke the word

As if a wedding vow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

In a soldier’s stance, I aimed my hand

At the mongrel dogs who teach

Fearing not that I’d become my enemy

In the instant that I preach

My pathway led by confusion boats

Mutiny from stern to bow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats

Too noble to neglect

Deceived me into thinking

I had something to protect

Good and bad, I define these terms

Quite clear, no doubt, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now
Copyright © 1964 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1992 by Special Rider Music

Read more: http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/my-back-pages#ixzz2rHJd9pSG

It is a happy day when the Christian realises that they are able to think for themselves and so casting aside the guidebook named 'catechist', begin to live in the world for which they are created. In so doing they recognise their life in relation to the lives of each other, and ultimately the continuous presence of their Creator in each person they meet.

On Thought and Record

There is the obligation to write.

To write for one's contemporaries.

To write for one's self.

To immortalise the transitory thoughts which pass.

Endlessly thinking and seldom writing.

Life passes by.

Thoughts lose impact.

All are great thinkers,

few record.

The desperation for youth,

a longing for substance.

The regret of forgetfulness.

The waking from a dream.

The Recipe of Salvation According to Elder Paisios (repost)

From the outstanding blog 'Mystagogy' by John Sanidopoulos.

- Seek for a lifeline near to God. Contain your material needs, because they create huge burdens and anxieties.

- Do not envy people that have money, comforts, fame and power, but rather those who live with virtue, reason and piety.

- Do not ask God for things that only support your body, but especially what is good and beneficial for your soul.

- Change your life, discover the meaning of life, gain the time lost in this process so far on earth.

- Do not trust the mindset of secular people.

- Be healed of the illnesses that dominate the lives of people that did not learn to fast, to be chaste, to pray, to hope.

- Do not despair. God is omnipresent and loves humanity.

- Cut off every relationship with evil, live freely, according to the will of the Lord.

- Prove your faith with works of love toward your neighbor.

- Decide what you want most: the sympathy of the world or a return near to God?

- Almost all problems start from the mouth (what you say) and, likewise, by the amount you depend on your passions.

- Love your wife more than yourself. With works, not with words. And do not ever talk to her badly, because sometimes the tongue kills and destroys love. Also, be careful, because some parents spoil their children very much and always do them favors. And when a child is too spoiled, they will become selfish and take a crooked path. Many parents care more about providing material things for their children. This is wrong. The body has many material desires, but a short life. The soul continues along another course. The soul does not end up in the dirt, but with God. Today everyone deals with their body, not with the needs of their soul.

- The needs of the soul are different. The joys of the soul are different from the joys of the body. The body is easily managed, not the soul. If you have money and enter a big store, the body is all set. But what can you find in a, what do you call those big stores, yes, a supermarket, for your soul? The soul needs other things. The soul has need of peace, quiet, communion with God. To sustain the body, you need silver and daily bread. To sustain the soul, divine talents and heavenly Bread are needed.

From the book Four Hours With Fr. Paisios (Τέσσερις ώρες με τον π. Παίσιο). Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Psalm II (modern)

Psalm II

1.   Why fumeth in fight : the Gentiles spite,
in fury raging stout?
Why taketh in hand : the people fond,
Vain things to bring about?

2.   The kings arise : the lords devise,
in counsels met thereto :
Against the Lord : with false accord,
against his Christ they go.

3.   Let us they say : break down their ray,
of all their bonds and cords :
We will renounce : that [which] they pronounce,
their laws [?] as stately lords.

4.   But God of might : in heaven so bright,
Shall laugh them all to scorn :
The Lord on high : shall them defy,
they shall be once forlorn.

5.   Then shall his ire : speak all in fire,
to them again therefore :
He shall with threat : their malice beat,
in his displeasure sore.

6.   Yet am I set : a king so great,
on Sion hill full fast :
Though me they kill : yet will that hill,
my law and word outcast.

7.   God’s words decreed : I (Christ) will spread
For God thus saved to me :
My son I say : thou art, this day,
I have begotten thee.

8.   Ask thou of me : I will give thee,
to rule all Gentile lands :
Thou shalt possess : in sureness,
the world how wide it stands.

9.   With iron rod : as mighty God
all rebels shall thou bruise :
And break them all : in pieces small,
as shards the potters use.

10. Be wise therefore : ye kings the more,
Receive ye wisdom’s lore :
Ye judges strong : of right and wrong,
advice you now before.

11. The Lord in fear : your service bear,
with dread to him rejoice :
Let rages me : resist not ye,
him serve with joyful voice.

12. The son kiss ye : lest wroth he be,
lose not the way of rest :
For when his ire : is set on fire,
who trust in him be blessed.

¶ The Collect.

Break asunder O Lord the bonds of our sins, that we may be faithfully yoked to the precepts of thy law, serve thee in fear and reverence, the laud of thy holy name. Through Christ,&c.