Father Moses
YouTube
Father Moses on Feelings, the Cross, and Spiritual Discernment
7:34
Father Moses contrasts boys who follow feelings with men who embrace duty and a purpose greater than themselves. He explains that the Christian life is fundamentally about carrying the cross, a hard, self-denying path opposed by demons and life's difficulties. Feelings are not pure; they arise from bad thinking, disordered desires, or refusal to sacrifice, enslaving those who follow them.
Purification requires denying feelings because the human person naturally rejects the cross, yet Christ bore it for us while we were enemies. The beginning of spiritual life, according to St. Ignatius Brianchaninov, is distrusting one's own thoughts, which manifest as emotions that lead to narcissistic reactions, lashing out, victimhood, anger, instead of trust in God's providence.
The test of the Holy Spirit is whether something brings peace, hope, and reliance on God rather than fear, anxiety, hurt, or self-righteousness. St. Seraphim of Sarov teaches that acquiring the spirit of peace saves those around us, and without self-denial and the cross there is no salvation for oneself or others.
Key moments
- Boys seek feelings and distractions; men seek duty, calling, and purpose greater than themselves.
- Christian life means carrying the cross, it is hard, self-sacrificing, self-denying, and demons war against you to make you quit.
- Feelings are not pure; they flow from bad thinking, bad desires, or unwillingness to sacrifice, and most people become slaves to their unpurified feelings.
- Purification requires denying feelings because the human person does not want the cross; Christ bore the cross for us while we were still his enemies.
- St. Ignatius Brianchaninov teaches the beginning of spiritual life is not trusting your own thoughts, which manifest as emotions and lead you astray.
- Emotions urge narcissistic reactions, lashing out, victimhood, anger, instead of seeing God's providence and secret will.
- The litmus test for the Holy Spirit is whether something brings peace, hope, trust, and reliance on God, rather than fear, anxiety, hurt, or self-righteousness.
- St. Seraphim of Sarov says acquire the spirit of peace and a thousand around you will be saved; without self-denial and the cross there is no salvation for oneself or others.