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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: thee. Thou hast dishonoured my grey hairs, and taken away the
light of mine eyes, and loosed the strength of my sinews; `for
the thing which I greatly feared concerning thee is come upon me,
and that which I was afraid of hath come unto me.' Thou art
become a joy to mine enemies, and a laughing~stock to mine
adversaries. With untutored mind and childish judgement thou
hast followed the teaching of the deceivers and esteemed the
counsel of the malicious above mine; thou hast forsaken the
worship of our gods and become the servant of a strange God.
Child, wherefore hast thou done this? I hoped to bring thee up
in all safety, and have thee for the staff and support of mine
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