Our struggle is “not against flesh and blood, but against ... the rulers of the present darkness ... the hosts of wickedness in heavenly places ..." (Ephesians 6:12)
On the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate St John Climacus (of the Ladder), abbot of St Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century). His book “The Ladder Of Divine Ascent” is intended for monks and the spiritually advanced, and is perhaps most beneficial to laypeople when slowly and carefully read in small portions. [1/2]
On the 4th Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate St John Climacus (of the Ladder), abbot of St Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai (6th century). His book “The Ladder Of Divine Ascent” is intended for monks and the spiritually advanced, and is perhaps most beneficial to laypeople when slowly and carefully read in small portions. [1/2]
[2/2] On loving God
"The man who really loves the Lord, who has made a real effort to find the future Kingdom, who is really pained by his sins, who is really mindful of eternal torment and judgment, who really lives in fear of his own departure, will not love, carry, or worry about money, or possessions, or parents, or worldly glory, or friends, or brothers, or anything at all on earth. But having shaken off all ties with earthly things and having stripped himself of all his cares, and having come to hate even his own flesh, and having stripped himself of everything, he will follow Christ without anxiety or hesitation. . .”
"The man who really loves the Lord, who has made a real effort to find the future Kingdom, who is really pained by his sins, who is really mindful of eternal torment and judgment, who really lives in fear of his own departure, will not love, carry, or worry about money, or possessions, or parents, or worldly glory, or friends, or brothers, or anything at all on earth. But having shaken off all ties with earthly things and having stripped himself of all his cares, and having come to hate even his own flesh, and having stripped himself of everything, he will follow Christ without anxiety or hesitation. . .”
[W]e may have already failed in our Lenten goals, perhaps many times over. … As St. John [of the Ladder] says, to fall is human, but to remain fallen is proper only to the demons. Thankfully, in the end, the victory in this battle lies not with us, but with Christ. As long as we keep on climbing, he waits patiently to receive us at the top. More than that, the Lord is at our side during this ascent, giving us the strength to keep climbing and catching us when we slip. To paraphrase St. John: Let us hasten, brethren, to make our ascent! —Met. Tikhon of America
Everything leads to the centre!
At the centre of this icon of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church is Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The other 12 Great Feasts surrounding it in the icon all relate to the Resurrection, marking the major events leading up to it and after it. And so it is in the life of the Church and every Orthodox Christian. Everything leads to the centre: to Christ and His Glorious Resurrection.
At the centre of this icon of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church is Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
The other 12 Great Feasts surrounding it in the icon all relate to the Resurrection, marking the major events leading up to it and after it. And so it is in the life of the Church and every Orthodox Christian. Everything leads to the centre: to Christ and His Glorious Resurrection.
If you bear your cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He, through His mercy, will not abandon you but will touch your heart and will impart to you the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is then that you will feel an indescribable delight, a wonderful inner peace and joy such as you have never experienced before, and at the same time you will feel an influx of spiritual strength; prayer will become easier and your faith stronger. Then your heart will be kindled with love of God and all people. All these are gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When the Lord decides to honor you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
When the Lord decides to honor you with such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors, and do not think that you have attained perfection. Such thoughts come from pride. The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards but gifts of divine mercy.
☦️ St Innocent, Enlightener of Siberia and Alaska (Reposed Mar 31, 1879),"The Way Into the Kingdom of Heaven"
A contrast revealed in icons
St. Mary of Egypt: repented in tears, struggled valiantly against temptations and received the longed-for Mystical Supper, the Cup of Salvation, from the hand of St. Zozimas.
Judas Iscariot: left the Mystical Supper after betraying his Master, leaving behind an empty halo and a mere silhouette in the place of where he should have been had he not turned his back on Jesus Christ. He brought upon himself the despair of guilt without repentance.
St. Mary of Egypt: repented in tears, struggled valiantly against temptations and received the longed-for Mystical Supper, the Cup of Salvation, from the hand of St. Zozimas.
Judas Iscariot: left the Mystical Supper after betraying his Master, leaving behind an empty halo and a mere silhouette in the place of where he should have been had he not turned his back on Jesus Christ. He brought upon himself the despair of guilt without repentance.
Fight to escape from your own cleverness. If you do, then you will find salvation and uprightness through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
☦️St. John Climacus
Cave of St. John Climacus, Mount Sinai
☦️St. John Climacus
Cave of St. John Climacus, Mount Sinai