The beauty of virtue! So often we discuss the spiritual life as if the main goal or the end of it is simply the avoidance of sin. While avoiding sin certainly is essential, we are called to something far greater. What we received through the Paschal mystery and through our baptism is adoption as sons and daughters of God; the capacity by grace to share in the life of the Trinity. The fathers speak of deification.

As we read through Saint John’s description of purity and chastity, these truths begin to manifest themselves. We engage in this constant struggle with our own appetites and with the temptations from the demons not simply to avoid sin, but to give and receive love in the way God intended; for that love to be rightly ordered and also, by grace, to become something that is supernatural.

We are to love one another as Christ has loved us. It is often very difficult for us to understand this because more often than not we have never tasted the fruit of this virtue. We are surrounded by its opposite; and often have been immersed in that which is impure for most of our lives. Yet, even as we struggle for this virtue, we must not fall into a purely moralistic or legalistic view of life. It is through entering into the love of Christ and receiving that love through the holy Eucharist, that we are given the capacity to love in a selfless fashion. Furthermore, it is also through this Grace that we become capable of receiving such love without any impediment. May God open our eyes to the beauty of the life that He is made possible for us and the beauty of virtue!

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Text of chat during the group:

00:08:51 FrDavid Abernethy: page 149 para 63 00:10:20 FrDavid Abernethy: page 149 para 63 “When we are in the world for some necessity” 00:35:38 Louise: If King David repented, why did his kingdom went down so badly via his descendance (Solomon)? 00:45:49 Eric Ewanco: He's referring to Peter who Scripture said had a mother-in-law 00:48:07 Lawrence Martone: Regarding the question on David, I would highly recommend: 00:48:51 angelo: Reacted to "452E4EA7-2A85-4B45-9031-4D3B09714915_1_102_a.jpeg" with 👍 00:49:43 Louise: Thanks to both! 00:52:06 Cindy Moran: Reacted to "452E4EA7-2A85-4B45-9031-4D3B09714915_1_102_a.jpeg" with 👍 00:52:18 TFredman: Reacted to "452E4EA7-2A85-4B45-9031-4D3B09714915_1_102_a.jpeg" with 👍 00:53:45 angelo: Replying to "452E4EA7-2A85-4B45-9031-4D3B09714915_1_102_a.jpeg" it is free on pdf file in St. Philopateer Coptic Orthodox website. 01:02:32 Anthony: Long ingrained habits can be at play. In NY, I remember Talk Radio or Frank Sinatra etc often being in the background. It can be uncomfortable not to have something in the background. 01:08:16 Cindy Moran: Th orthodox seem to have more involved night prayer in their books. 01:13:13 Cindy Moran: I've done that at times...LOL 01:15:19 Rebecca Thérèse: Until very recently it was common for everyone to have two sleeps broken by some kind of activity in the middle of the night even including going out and visiting others 01:18:12 Cindy Moran: Thank you Father...Happy Father's Day, too! 01:18:17 angelo: thank you 01:18:19 TFredman: Thank you Fr. Abernethy and everyone! 01:18:19 Jeff O.: thank you! 01:18:19 David Swiderski: Thank you 01:18:22 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂 01:18:28 kevin: Thank you

The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter XV: On Chastity, Part VIII

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