St. John Chrysostom has the following excellent quote in his fourteenth homily on Ephesians, “For this purpose it is that God has armed us with anger, not that we should thrust the sword against our own bodies [that is, against our fellow man], but that we should baptize the whole blade in the devil's breast. There bury the sword up to the hilt; yea, if you will, hilt and all, and never draw it out again, but add yet another and another. And this actually comes to pass when we are merciful to those of our own spiritual family and peaceably disposed one towards another.”
I used to be big on the Anti-State stuff. I still loathe the US Federal Govt & all its tyrannical agencies, but I had to cut out a lot of the content I consume which only increased my anger. I still watch a little bit to stay informed, but most of it I had to cut out of my life. I also despise idle talk, my family are constantly going on tangents. I’m starting to detach mentally the second I hear key phrases like “You know, it’s actually kind of interesting…” or “well yeah because…”. It’s a growing problem & I need to find a way to deal with it, but with God’s grace, surely we can move mountains.
This is my biggest challenge. I ask the Lord every day for continued lessons in patience and forgiveness and to forgive me of my failings and shortcomings with anger (which I fail at every day).
Thank you for this video. I struggle with the passion of anger try and act opposite to the passion, keep quiet, and pray the Jesus prayer... but still I struggle. By God's grace, through the Mysteries of the Church and repentance gradually it's getting better. All through Christ ☦️ thanks for insight about how to direct anger towards evil, sin, and the enemy. So helpful Christ is Ascended!From Earth into Heaven ☦️
Well, perhaps. I'm not an authority; I simply have experience. In myself, I have become aware that it's not so much the stomach as the root that feeds anger, but rather it is self-love that feeds gluttony, anger, and lust, all three. Any of those three passions can ignite any of the others, even all three at the same time. Denying one can cause attacks by either of the others, by which the demons seek to undo the blockage. But the root is desire for gratifying selfish impulses, by definition pride, a turning away from God and virtue. I tend to think it takes prayer, fasting, and almsgiving (mercy), all three, to do battle with the Cerberus. Or so I testify. But it seems to me to be in tune with the Holy Fathers, and I have never heard of anything that makes me bring it into question.
Father Daniel, can you do a video on marriage geared towards young men? What the point of marriage is, how to know if you're called towards virginity or marriage, how to prepare for it and what the church fathers say? Thank you!
John 7:18, He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him. ☦️
This is such a problem for me. I have adhd and bipolar. There are times when the only way i can calm myself down is to isolate from all stimulation and thats not possible in the world we live in.
Try to gradually spend less time being willingly involved in stimulation (i.e. online, screens, with other people) and more time in prayer. Increased focus on prayer life seems to have improved by bipolar and ADHD to a place beyond what I could have ever imagined. Remain focused on the words of prayer, and bring it back every time your mind drifts, or the demons try to tempt it.
Also, it’s interesting to note that the wise pagan Plato understood the soul to be tripartite: the Rational Soul, the Irascible Soul, and the Appetitive Soul. In a properly ordered man, the Rational Soul (which is in some way comparable to our understanding of the nous), employs the Irascible Soul (the emotions, especially anger) to keep the Appetitive Soul in check. Of course we see that in a fallen and sinful man the reverse order is enacted, with the appetites using the emotions to subject the nous.
I struggle with anger directed at those who have committed horrible acts to other people such as child rapists or rapists. I know this anger is futile but I find it so hard to overcome. This can just be directed at stuff I hear about over the Internet not something over something that is personal to my life or to the people I know. Is this not righteous anger? Pray for me.
Would anger be justified in a situation like this? I am angry because my grandmother will leave an inheritance to my mother, my mother struggles with alchol and will likely become worse when she retires soon. I have tried to help her but she refuses to stop drinking. She also has a history of spending money unwisely and frivolously. I believe wholeheartedly that she will waste the money and there will be almost none left for me and my siblings and our children/grandchildren. She already is dipping into it and wasting it on things. I think this is such a waste when I could multiply the money with smart investing and secure our families financial future for generations. Would this be considered a sinful anger or not?
It's not your money, it's your grandmother's. She can do with it as she sees fit. Even if it were your money it would not be good to be so attached to it that you become angry at the thought of it being taken away. Think about having nothing and inheriting nothing like so many. We are all made from dust.
In extremely long times of distress and after a very long silence. A person has a right to try to speak out and get help. There is justified anger. There are many people who drive others to distress on purpose. The great serpent is in the Church as narcissistic priests, and laity too.
@@christineplaton3048 that’s a pretty narcissistic comment which reveals you didn’t listen to the video in whole. Work on getting that serpent out of your garden first before you go and judge what is Christ’s.
Bless father. If I don't vent, I think. How can I control the thought too? During the bust of anger, I really become a best. I can't think straight, only in the “injustice” that has been caused to me.
I am full of righteous anger and hatred for the darkness and iniquity in my nation, and desire to see it defeated by God's providence. Psalm 139:21 "Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?"
But what of "love your enemies"? The Psalm cannot stand alone on its surface. It must be reconciled with the fact that Christ loved all of us, came to save sinners, and does not desire the death of sinners but that they should return (to Him) and live. The moment we take the Psalm to mean that we can hate another person, our anger is no longer righteous. To be righteous, our anger must remain targeted on our passions. Who are those who are in rebellion against God? The demons. Not the persons around us, however iniquitous and dark and fallen. For them we must show mercy.
@farmergiles1065 Christ does not contradict his own psalms. The answer is that there is holy and righteous hatred that seeks holiness. And then there is unholy and passionate hatred that only elevates the subject individual over all humanity through sinful pride. On the other hand, righteous anger seeks to preserve, protect, and construct goodness.
Quick question: I have presented the faith of Christ to many agnostics and atheists in my life, and they were very good heart to heart conversations. One thing I have discovered in these conversations is that many of them are not necessarily unconvinced of the existence of God. Rather, they cannot bring themselves to love Him or think that He is good. They’ll usually say things along the lines of, “I didn’t get to have a say in how God created me, and he created me with the inclination to fall to sin and has the audacity to send me to hell for sinning and expects us to love him.” While I present the case that “good” and “evil” cannot objectively exist outside of God, they accuse him of being a hypocrite. How can I correct them, as I don’t understand myself how to answer this question.
@@Aaron.T2005 part of it is that they think they’re being logical but they’re anthropomorphizing God to an extent that they aren’t not engaging in the the discussion accurately.
@@living_orthodox excuse me for the confusion Father, I just mean on the things he’s been saying and maybe some perspective on how he got there and how our brothers and sisters can avoid going there
Father, having visited some monasteries, I have come out of it somewhat disappointed of the worldliness of a lot of them. In terms of the prevalence of items, internet, and other luxuries and amenities. Is this my misguided understand of monasticism, or false expectations, or is monasticism in the modern day just lax? I don’t expect anyone to be St Anthony, but it seems like there’s an attack on Hesychia by technology which is even present on the Holy Mountain. I would appreciate an answer. My favourite place so far has been Jordanville. They have the ancient spirit in tact, it seems.
I guess everyone had become pretty lax. But this is normal, and was saddly happening all the time. In future there will be reforms, that make the monasteries great again. There are ups and downs.
Bless fr. One thing i never quite grasp is, how are the passions something that we got after the fall? I mean all these passions have biological basis like hormones in our blood, neurotransmitters that regulate them in our nervous system etc...they are part of us. Why do we say we got them after the fall?
Cancer is a mutation is it not? Be wary of the scholastic approach which reduced everything down to cells. Many things came after it he fall that weren’t intended, death, disease etc. just because these things register something, doesn’t mean that they are responsible for anger. Ultimately, we can override this.
I imagine that the biology of Adam and Eve changed after the fall, due to death being introduced, now cells die. Before the fall, not even cells had death. So alot must have changed
Thank you father, The Passion Of Anger is one of the hardest Passion that i had fought And father ,i'm incredibly curious what are your thoughts on The a new Christiaj Series Called "The Chosen" (Pardon My english,its not my first Languange)
i have a question holy father. im my life, i would never have found faith if it was not for my sin. i am a near death experience survivor. my near death experience was hellish. i was saved from that hell by Jesus Christ, and years later i was saved, baptized by the spirit and i am with the lord Jesus now walking every day. my question is- how am i to hate the devil if it was only due to his temptations that i fell so far that Jesus was able to get through to me? i was so deeply angry, and so deeply in revolt. i find it hard to not in fact pity the devil, in that all he did to me he had no power at all, and in fact ultimately drove me to my loving father? i pray on this often. and deeply. because he also enrages me. but he knows not what he does, and he hates those who serve him, and most ultimately turn against him. of course they do... i hate the devil, but i also forgive him, and i also pity him. at the same time. and i certainly dont fear him. i only fear my lord god. how am i to fear the evil one after all i have seen god do. i do certainly hate him tho, for how he tempts, and accuses, but does not the true enemy always dwell within? is this not the journey? to trust, and love and forgive, to submit so that we become closer to him, lord Jesus Christ? if your read this holy father thank you for your time, and your courage and leadership to have this channel. may the father, the son and the holy spirit bless you sir, and keep you always.
@Bethan-hr3ot Notice 90 %,. I eat a bowl of organic oats with honey and cinnamon and diced dried raw dates with coconut milk 2x a week. Rest of died is baked meat and eggs,some berries and nuts. All cooking done with ghee. I eat vege soup,with spices and herbs. My wife and I nearly 60 and we are healthy
@Bethan-hr3ot We don't eat wheat,rye bread,rice,etc. Yes you are right gluten is a lot less in our diet now,but on occasion we will consume some,that's why I put 90%. Have a lovely day Sister and may Gods,grace and mercy sustain you on this day. 🙏☦️
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Father John, Im thinking about inquiring at my local Orthodox Church which is ROCOR. Am I safe to do so? Or should I refrain and go elsewhere? Im still confused in what churches are in communion. Thanks and God bless.
Thank you father, I appreciate your words really. To keep calm in face to face situations is easy for me. My hardest enemy is the anger against the world on days when the world seems dark, cold and empty and I am fighting all the passions that comes from loneliness. It seems it's a long way to overcome this anger. Your words help a lot. 👍
If our angre is to be directed towards our sins, would it not be as usefull when directed towards someone elses sins? I feel like i am stuck between being truthful, and angry. Am i angry while calling calling out someone elses flaws or bad behavior with a non-restrained speech? I do use the same measurestick onto myself. My conundrum becomes.. how do i call out something bad if i am not to use it's proper description? I guess that as long as i attack the behavior or flaw in someone and not the person, that should be ok... But then again, people today loves their flaws and sick behaviors. Do i keep quite and let them live in delusion?
