Self-Centeredness
“To continue growing requires watchfulness, or inner attentiveness (nepsis), which is necessary for replacing the vices with virtues. We must know what is happening inside ourselves. Most of us are in a state of inner sleep (hypnos). We think of ourselves as conscious, but the Fathers call it sleep—an unawareness characterized by self-centeredness. What we need is a detached awareness of what’s happening inside in order to be more aware of the promptings of the conscience.” (
Relationships with Others
“The Greek word koinonia means “community” in its deepest and most mysterious sense. God Himself, existing in the Trinity, is koinonia in His very nature. We can only truly understand ourselves when we lay claim to the image of God. We must recognize that, like God, the truth of who we are centers in our community. Our very nature demands that we fully embrace our relationships with others…Why were we created? God created humans for loving relationships. If God is love, then
Enemies
“At the root of all this is the failure to see who our true enemies are. Our enemies are demons. Humans who teach false things are not...
Weakness
“The second active character in this event [Matthew 26:6-16] is the sinful woman, whom the Church’s tradition and hymns tell us had...
Judgmentalism
“The Apostle Peter exhorts us Christians to be “of one mind” which will require us to have compassion for one another and to forgive...
Illusions
“In chapter 3 of Genesis, the tragic moments of what we call the Fall are described. People ‘rebelled’ and sought to become gods...
Wisdom (2)
“… the acquisition of wisdom is always conditional, for God makes wisdom available only when two major “ifs” apply to us: “if [we] call...
Surrender
“There is a saying, “The more we try to control what we cannot control, the more out of control we feel. It is only when we let go of our...
Motives/Motivations
“Distraction serves a purpose. Like gargoyles guarding the roofline of a cathedral, distractions first serve to ward off those who lack...
Gripped (Enslaved)
“To be perfect, one must willingly sacrifice all and follow Christ. Nothing is gained unless this sacrifice is given freely. The...