I’d like to be able to say that the bible verse that best sums up my Christian life is something along the line of “his praise shall continually be in my mouth” or even “Be still, and know that I am God.” Unfortunately, it is probably “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief” from Mark 9:24. This is part of the greater reading read on the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent (Mark 9:17-31), so I must not be the only one who finds that it resonates with them.

This past Sunday, the next to last Sunday of Lent (Palm Sunday and Holy Week are outside of Lent, but not Pascha yet on the Orthodox Calendar), the church commemorated St. John Climacus or St. John of the Ladder. (the Patron of the wonderful Ian from Down Under – Many Years!).
One of the great monastic fathers of all times is St. John, surnamed Climacus in honor of his book Klimax (the Ladder). From the time of its writing in the sixth century, this book has been held as a fundamental text on the ascetic life. While originally written for monastics, it is a work of universal significance whose lasting popularity stems from its practical and psychologically penetrating counsel. In recognition of its importance to the whole of the faithful, the Church dedicates the Fourth Sunday of Great Lent to the memory of its author. (from an article sent by Father Thomas)

I’ve not had the pleasure of reading The Ladder, but found this selection from it to be particularly timely:

The insensitive man is a foolish philosopher, an exegete condemned by his own words, a scholar who contradicts himself, a blind man teaching sight to others. He talks about healing a wound and does not stop making it worse. He complains about what has happened and does not stop eating what is harmful. He prays against it but carries on as before, doing it and being angry with himself. And the wretched man is in no way shamed by his own words. "I'm doing wrong," he cries, and zealously continues to do so. His lips pray against it and his body struggles for it. He talks profoundly about death and acts as if he will never die. He groans over the separation of soul and body, and yet lives in a state of waking slumber as if he were eternal. He has plenty to say about self control and fights for a gourmet life. He reads about the judgment and begins to smile, about vainglory and is vainglorious while he is reading. He recites what he has learnt about keeping vigil, and at once drops off to sleep. Prayer he extols, and runs from it as if from a plague. Blessings he showers on obedience, and is the first to disobey. Detachment he praises, and he shamelessly fights over a rag. When he is angry he gets bitter, and then his bitterness makes him angry, so that having suffered one defeat he fails to notice that he has suffered another. He gorges himself, is sorry, and little later is at it again. He blesses silence and cannot stop talking about it. He teaches meekness and frequently gets angry while he is teaching it. Having come to his senses, he sighs and shaking his head embraces his passion once more. He denounces laughter, and while lecturing on mourning he is all smiles. In front of others, he criticizes himself for being vainglorious, and in making the admission he is looking for glory. He looks people in the eye with passion and talks about chastity. Out in the world he is full of praise for the solitary life and cannot see how much he is disgracing himself. He glorifies almsgivers and despises the poor. In everything he shows himself up for what he is, and does not come to his senses, though I would not say he was incapable of doing so.
St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, 18

This I believe is why we find ourselves commemorating this saint during the end of Lent. How have each of us faced our daily struggle? How have we fasted, given alms, and prayed? How have we kept the Fast? It is easy to fall off the ladder, but the greatest sin isn’t the falling, but to not get up and try again. It is easy to focus on what others have or have not done during this time. The time is here to not focus on others but on ourselves – and it isn’t too late. For, as St. John Chrystostom tells us in his wonderful Paschal sermon (which we are only a short time from hearing)


If any have laboured long in fasting,
Let him how receive his recompense.
If any have wrought from the first hour,
Let him today receive his just reward.
If any have come at the third hour,
Let him with thankfulness keep the feast.
If any have arrived at the sixth hour,
Let him have no misgivings;
Because he shall in nowise be deprived therefore.
If any have delayed until the ninth hour,
Let him draw near, fearing nothing.
And if any have tarried even until the eleventh hour,
Let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.

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