When reading the fathers, it is as if we are swimming in the living waters of their faith and love for God.  In this sense we are in a privileged position: we are able to catch a glimpse of what might otherwise be completely incomprehensible to us. Yet the warmth of the light of their faith is undeniable; for contrition is often understood and experienced as the coldest of realities, expressing only the poverty of our sin and the distance from God that it creates. When reading the fathers, however, we begin to see that contrition is love and rooted, most importantly, in a relationship of love with merciful God. 

God has come among us and take our flesh upon himself and so there is nothing foreign to Him about our experience or the poverty of our sin. He has entered into it all, embracing it, carrying it, and experiencing every subtle impact that it has upon our hearts. Contrition and the tears that often flow because of it is part of God‘s providential care for us. There are many reasons why we might have a punitive vision of God and how he engages us. If we focus only on our sin or if we simply over analyze on an intellectual level who God is and the nature of sin then we are destined for despondency. A faith that is solely moralistic and legalistic can crush the spirit, sometimes permanently.

Once we experienced true contrition, we must allow it to reveal the meaning and the purpose of our tears; or better yet, we must simply allow ourselves to experience the impact of this reality on our hearts and how it can open us up to an unparalleled experience of the love and mercy of God. One period of tears shed for love can preserve virtues that have been hard won over the course of years. These tears are shaped not only by emotion or sorrow but by the grace of God.

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Text of chat during the group: 

00:15:15 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 253, # 12

00:32:45 Kate : If someone has had a very legalistic experience within the Church, does it take a leap of faith to make the shift to even believe in the love of God?  In other words, does one have to bow down in humility and accept the love of God as a matter of faith?

00:52:15 Myles Davidson: More than one Catholic exorcist have said that Nefarious is the best portrayal of demonic possession on film they’ve seen. Great film!

01:05:58 Myles Davidson: That’s just about my favourite desert father teaching thus far. Beautiful image!

01:06:17 Vanessa: Love it too.

01:06:26 Vanessa: Reacted to "That’s just about my..." with ❤️

01:17:09 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Blessing

01:17:37 Andrew Adams: Thanks be to God! Thank you, Father!

01:17:40 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️

01:18:00 Bob Čihák, AZ: Bless you!!