Live as though you are not of this world and you will have peace. — St. Anthony of Egypt, 4th Century.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. The Church teaches that the way to theosis is through the death of our passions. This would certainly be easier if we could all be monks and nuns! However, most of us live in this world and are constantly surrounded by sex, violence, greed, and all manner of spiritual illnesses.

I struggle greatly with trying to fend of evil thoughts and temptations. Some of my sins are so deepset that I don’t want to give them up because I’ve grown to enjoy them so much!

St. Maximos the Confessor, from the 7th Century, says:

Pleasure of the senses is is succeeded by pain of the soul, while acceptance of pain of the senses is succeeded by pleasure of the soul.

Maybe this is the curse of being a Christian: you can longer find lasting pleasure in the things of this world. Ignorance is truely bliss, once you understand what you’re doing is ill for your soul, you can’t find the same pleasure in them. Yes, they might bring momentary pleasure, but if your heart is right with God, then it doesn’t take long to regret your actions.

The saints and monks teach us that the best way to live is with full knowledge that you will die. So, this is what I’m going to try to do, to keep my own death in mind, so that maybe, just maybe, I’ll quit putting off my prayers, quit thinking “Oh, I’ll repent later” and start killing myself a little each day.

+Pray for me!