Obedience! When you are obedient, you destroy the power of the devil.
The person who is not obedient has within themselves the ego.
The ego is the nature of the devil, it is the nature of perdition; it is the beginning of hell and of nihilism.
Does "I" exist?
God did not say, "I"!
Look at Jesus, Who is the True Creator and Sustainer of all creatures!
When He gave an eyewitness account of the perdition of the demons, He said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18).
All-Good One, You told a lie!
Did You see him, or did You burn him Yourself? Since You burned him?!
He does not say, "I burned him" so that He does not say "I".
He left I for us to use! (sarcastically) We should be ashamed of ourselves!
God Himself avoids pronouncing, "I!".
It is fitting for Him, the Ruler and Creator of the entire world.
Therefore, I address you my loves, hiding (your sins) is what collapses your foundation. You are embarrassed to approach your abbot?
I've said it so many times! There is no other way! This is the patristic Tradition! The abbot exists as a representation of the Holy Apostles, as a representation of Christ!
Christ does not speak in any other way! We see this even from the time of the Mosaic law (Old Testament). This is the order of things!
Everywhere there is an order! Countless angels have told us these things, who submit with great strictness to His commandments!
This balance exists in all of creation!
Why are you embarrassed? Let's just say I have an inner struggle. I will give you a simple example, which I came across recently.
I met a young girl that was very pious.
As good as she was, and she never thought about evil things, one day carnal thoughts started to come to her.
She tried to drive them out, but she was not successful because she did not have enough experience.
Then she went to the parish priest, who she knew well, and she told him, "You know father a strange thing is happening to me which I have never thought about before. It now has taken hold of me and it won't leave me alone."
He signed her with the sign of the Holy Cross and he said to her, "May God forgive you! And if the thought ever comes to you again, come to me and tell me."
Do you see? This is the practical humility which uproots the devil!
Hiding, meaning your own will, which comes from your ego, is the seat of the devil.
We however, must uproot this thing. You are embarrassed to tell your abbot, "Gheronda, I have a battle?"
Lord of the powers!
Is there a person who is not fought against, since we came here to fight (against the passions)?
Christ did not bring us here for commodities!
He brought us here, and He went before us, and He showed us the practical war.