The monastic teaching is that when a person goes beyond the mind in prayer then that person may encounter Wisdom directly. If not, then the teaching is to be wise and persevere in virtue and devotion, because sooner or later the pilgrim will meet God.

Well, I think there is at least one place where this is true. We can gain some victory over sin, but then becomes proud about it; forgetting to be dependent on God for further victory. In that case grace can be withdrawn enough to let us fall back into sin. This brings back contrition and repentance and a gratitude to God and can be said to be a “cure” for sin.

The second is his insistence that we NOT obey unless we are willing and cheerful about it inwardly. This forces us to deal with the real, inner issues of disobedience.

The third thing is the most interesting and possibly controversial. He says virtue can wound us. He says those who are injured by virtue are cured by vice. This requires serious consideration i think. I would love to hear what others think about this idea.

I must admit that as much as I have been irritated by Evangelical unbalanced teaching they really do have a lot of good things. The monastic path would be improved by adding Protestant truths just as much as Evangelical methods would be improved by adding monastic truths.
Somebody once told me that if a person builds a bridge that it will get walked on from both sides of the river.

Susan and I are in a Vineyard church down here in St Louis. It is a full facility church, with a broad base of church function that includes community, worship, praise, responsible life style, evangelism, teaching, etc. Compared to your church in Sprinfield though it has less emphasis on the interior side of Christianity. Your post really cuts to the heart and shows a real life example of the Molinos teaching. So, I would say that your training is paying off. And, I believe that you and Jon will find even more reward in the future.

Thanks, Bob