September 26, 1999
The Ladder of St. John
Climacus
Today we are beginning a new study of one of the
most famous Desert Fathers of Egypt, St. John Climacus, also known as "St. John of
the Ladder." St. John was a monk on Mount Sinai at the Monastery of St. Catherine. If
you have not visited Inner Light’s Photo Gallery, there are a number of images there
of this monastery which, by the way, is the oldest continuously-inhabited Christian
monastery in the world. You can view these photos at
http://www.innerlightproductions.com/galegypt.htm .
Our reading today is a sermon from the Russian Orthodox
Metropolitan, Philaret, delivered on the feast day of St. John of the Ladder. It gives us
a nice overview of St. John’s teaching and his importance to EVERY Christian seeking
to live the Christian life according to the teachings of the Orthodox Church.
BEGIN: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
More than once, brethren, the fact has been mentioned that on each
Sunday in the Great Fast (i.e., Lent) there are other commemorations besides that of the
Resurrection. Thus, on this day, the Church glorifies the righteous John of the Ladder,
one of the greatest ascetics, which the Church, in speaking of them, calls "earthly
angels and Heavenly men."
These great ascetics were extraordinary people. They commanded the
elements; wild beasts willingly and readily obeyed them. For them, there were no maladies
they could not cure. They walked on the waters as on dry land; all the elements of the
world were subject to them, because they lived in God and had the power of grace to
overcome the laws of terrestrial nature. One such ascetic was St. John of the Ladder.
He was surnamed "of the Ladder" (Climacus) because he
wrote an immortal work, the "Ladder of Divine Ascent." In this work, we see how,
by means of thirty steps, the Christian gradually ascends from below to the heights of
supreme spiritual perfection. We see how one virtue leads to another, as a man rises
higher and higher and finally attains to that height where there abides the crown of the
virtues, which is called "Christian love."
Saint John wrote his immortal work especially for the monastics,
but in the past his "Ladder" was always favorite reading in Russia for anyone
zealous to live piously, though he were not a monk. Therein the Saint clearly demonstrates
how a man passes from one step to the next.
Remember, Christian soul, that this ascent on high is indispensable
for anyone who wishes to save his soul unto eternity.
When we throw a stone up, it ascends until the moment when the
propelling force ceases to be effectual. So long as this force acts, the stone travels
higher and higher in its ascent, overcoming the force of the earth’s gravity. But
when this force is spent and ceases to act, then, as you know, the stone does not remain
suspended in the air. Immediately, it begins to fall, and the further it falls the greater
the speed of its fall. This, solely according to the physical laws of terrestrial gravity.
So it is also in the spiritual life. As a Christian gradually
ascends, the force of spiritual and ascetical labours lifts him on high. Our Lord Jesus
Christ said: "Strive to enter in through the narrow gate." That is, the
Christian ought to be an ascetic. Not only the monastic, but every Christian. He must take
pains for his soul and his life. He must direct his life on the Christian path, and purge
his soul of all filth and impurity.
Now, if the Christian, who is ascending upon this ladder of
spiritual perfection by his struggles and ascetic labours, ceases from this work and
ascetic toil, his soul will not remain in its former condition; but, like the stone, it
will fall to the earth. More and more quickly will it drop until, finally, if the man does
not come to his senses, it will cast him down into the very abyss of Hell.
It is necessary to remember this. People forget that the path of
Christianity is indeed an ascetical labour. Last Sunday, we heard how the Lord said:
"He that would come after Me, let him take up his cross, deny himself, and follow
Me." The Lord said this with the greatest emphasis. Therefore, the Christian must be
one who takes up his cross, and his life, likewise, must be an ascetic labour of bearing
that cross. Whatever the outward circumstance of his life, be he monk or layman, it is of
no consequence. In either case, if he does not force himself to mount upwards, then, of a
certainty, he will fall lower and lower.
And in this regard, alas, people have confused thoughts. For
example, a clergyman drops by a home during a fast. Cordially and thoughtfully, they offer
him fast food (i.e., food prepared according to the rules of the Fast), and say: "For
you, fast food, of course!" To this, one of our hierarchs customarily replies:
"Yes, I am Orthodox. But who gave you permission not to keep the fasts?" All the
fasts of the Church, all the ordinances, are mandatory for every Orthodox person. Speaking
of monastics, such ascetics as St. John of the Ladder and those like him fasted much more
rigorously than the Church prescribes; but this was a matter of their spiritual ardour, an
instance of their personal ascetic labour. This the Church does not require of everyone,
because it is not in accord with everyone’s strength. But the Church DOES require of
every Orthodox the keeping of those fasts which She has established.
Oftentimes have I quoted the words of Saint Seraphim, and once
again shall I mention them. Once there came to him a mother who was concerned about how
she might arrange the best possible marriage for her young daughter. When she came to
Saint Seraphim for advice, he said to her: "Before all else, ensure that he, whom
your daughter chooses as her companion for life, keeps the fasts. If he does not, then he
is not a Christian, whatever he may consider himself to be." You see how the greatest
saint of the Russian Church, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, a man who, better than we, knew what
Orthodoxy is, spoke concerning the fasts?
Let us remember this. Saint John Climacus has described the ladder
of spiritual ascent: then let us not forget that each Christian must ascend thereon. The
great ascetics ascended like swiftly-flying eagles; we scarcely ascend at all.
Nonetheless, let us not forget that, unless we employ our efforts in correcting ourselves
and our lives, we shall cease our ascent, and, most assuredly, we shall begin to fall.
Amen. END
from St. John Climacus, "The Ladder of Divine
Ascent," (Boston: Holy Transfiguration Monastery, 1978), pp. xxxi - xxxiii.
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