Faith Venture

A man who is truly in mourning will never go back to high living, glory, anger, or irritability. Mourning is the kind of sorrow which belongs to the penitent soul whose pains multiply like those of a woman in childbirth. When we die, we will not be criticized for having failed to work miracles. but we will certainly have some explanation to offer to God for not having mourned unceasingly. – John Climacus, Step Seven of the Ladder of Divine Ascent

Do you think that John nailed the disease of our time 1,500 years ago? “High living, glory, anger, irritability.”

Actually, this is the human condition. Every generation seems to find the ways of its own.

Just as a good morning and evening practice is to check in with the good things that have come our way, we should also repent of these traits that cause strife and separation from God.

[Note: I’m on Pacific time this week. It’s early for me. 😉 ]

The Stoics called it memento mori. The practice of reflection on mortality. John Climacus said, “Someone has said that you cannot pass a day devoutly unless you think of it as your last. Even the Greeks have said some such thing, because they describe philosophy as meditation on death.”

John also says, “The man who has died to all things remembers death, but whoever holds some ties with the world will not cease plotting against himself.”

If today is to be your last, is what you are doing worth it? Did you say a kind word? Do a caring deed? Teach someone? Calm someone? Encourage someone?

This, then, is the sixth step. He who has climbed it will never sin. “Remember your last end, and you will never sin” (Ecclesiasticus 7:36).

Once John outran Peter, and now obedience is placed before repentance. — John Climacus

That’s an old-school word for you–repentance. If you haven’t figured it out, I shun those old religious words fearing either misinterpretation or that they’ve lost their power.

But having placed our former life behind us and decided to be obedient to God, then we need to decide on a new path.

Repentance is the renewal of baptism and is a contract with God for a fresh start in life. – John Climacus

So many people today, and maybe always, do not leave room for repentance in other people. And what follows–grace.

On the one hand I read too much from those who are today called evangelicals who seem to not possess the quality of allowing others to repent and receive grace.

On the other hand there are people I’ve met who are so filled with pride that it is beyond their understanding to change their lives and acknowledge their past.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, “Only the penitent man shall pass.” He works it out, “The penitent man kneels before God.” He kneels and the giant bread slicer goes harmlessly over his head.

The penitent man kneels before God. And goes forward to seek the Holy Grail.

The second step on St. John of the Ladder’s (John Climacus) ladder of divine ascent is going into exile.

He was writing to monk who were leaving the city life and heading out to the desert. John was the abbot at the monastery at the base of Mount Sinai. I’ve been there. Climbed the mountain. Great experience. I was not in exile like the early Hebrews or the early monks were.

Going into exile means many things.

We can leave behind our status. Not dwell on accomplishments. Or job title. Or our wealth. If not physically, we can not dwell on them. Not brag. Just live one day at a time in the spirit.

We can take a periodic exile to a forest or beach or monastery or hotel. Get away for a day or several. I know a guy who flies to a place in Hawaii once or twice a year to just think.

We can clear our calendar periodically and take a Sabbath.

Just to spend time alone with God.

John Climacus puts spiritual discipline in the picture of a ladder reaching toward God. “The ladder of divine ascent.”

Once you begin the journey toward spiritual formation, the first step involved being alert–not sleepy. The second step is detachment.

Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Preachers usually shorten the term mammon to money. But the original word connotes the idea of wealth–stuff. Money plus all the things that you grow attached to. House, car, bank account, vacation home.

John says that once starting on the spiritual journey, detach your heart from all of these things that hold you back. He uses the picture of Lot and his wife leaving Sodom. God let them escape, but told them not to look back as if in longing for the life of sin there. Lot’s wife looked. Turned into a pillar of salt. Poof!

Jesus once used a story of a man plowing in the field and leaving the plow to follow him, and warns not to look back.

Jesus knows the state of our heart. He knows if our heart is still with our stuff or if it has truly turned toward following him.

Once you have taken the step of spiritual formation, do not look back.