The Kingdom of the Heart: Meditations from the Christian East

Although the story of our salvation began in the Orient, the richness of the spirituality of our Eastern Fathers and Mothers in the Faith has long remained hidden. The Church is indebted to the East for revealing how Christians from apostolic times lived their faith, from founding Christian monastic life to developing the worship that has helped shape our liturgy. In this spiritual masterpiece, Dr. Alexander Harb offers penetrating meditations on nine themes of the spiritual life, drawing from Eastern Christian sources and his own real-life examples. Each chapter includes a power-packed meditation, a related Scripture passage, engaging reflection questions, and challenges that are perfectly accessible for individual or group study. Through the lens of the Eastern Church and the Desert Fathers, you will reflect on topics such as repentance, the Jesus Prayer, heartbrokenness, discernment, family, friendship, and total reliance on God.  In these absorbing pages, you will discover: Advice on building virtue and accepting the love, life, and fire of the Holy Spirit Tips on entering into the stillness of prayer and reorienting yourself when distractions arise The four stages of conversion and three stages of prayer, according to the Eastern Fathers Ways to discern spirits, and simple yet rich wisdom to help you in times of temptation  How to encounter God’s peace more deeply in the liturgy and how to worship Him more fruitfully Methods of attaining metanoia, cardiagnosia (knowledge of the heart), and true transformation   Although practicing asceticism can be challenging, the fruits of inner freedom, peace, and the vision of God are unmistakable. These life-changing reflections aim to help you experience God’s compassionate and healing love for you and your family. By absorbing the wisdom of the East, you will come to know the Father’s merciful love more deeply, grow closer to our Lord, Jesus Christ, and become enlightened by the Holy Spirit.    Read more