Withdrawnness, on the other hand, represents the exact
opposite of spirituality; this is because it constitutes the
soul’s revolving around “Me, Myself and I.”

For a withdrawn person, worship revolves around himself
not around the Lord. His prayers will not probe the depths
of his soul, soaring with it to the Lord’s heavenly heights.
Rather, he locks himself up within his soul, seeking to submit the Lord to his own self. His prayers therefore only serve to appease his conscience and to elicit praise from others or even from himself. Such a person would not know how to talk candidly to the Lord as His Father. Fasting would only be practised to satisfy the person’s ego. He would talk much about himself seeking his and others’ admiration for his fasting and worship!

Finally, when that person confesses, he would neither be broken-hearted nor contrite before the Holy Spirit; rather, he would have lengthy accounts of his iniquities with his Father in confession, with no hint of regret or repentance. His primary objective is to solicit his confessor’s attention and sympathy. He might even go so far as to serve and to evangelize, without knowing how to preach repentance to his own soul. He delights in the appearance of his service, and in everyone’s interest in him and his work.

From Heart to Heart
Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty