The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Appendix "To The Shepherd", Part VI

One of the reasons that I’ve decided to prolong our study by reading this letter of St. John Climacus is that it speaks to our hearts about not only our interior life, the struggle with the passions and the growth of the virtues, but it also exhorts us - warning us that the care of others in love, our concern for their spiritual well-being trumps all things. In other words, our spiritual life cannot lead us to become self focused. Rather, it is meant to create hearts that are selfless and attentive to others and their needs. 

What St John says about the care of souls and the responsibilities of spiritual elders he says to all of us. The consolation that we have received from Christ and the wisdom that he has bestowed upon us in our spiritual life and through experience is not our own possession. We seek to console as we have been consoled. We seek to protect as we have been protected by the grace of God and the guidance that we have received at the hands of others. The Church is not a business nor is it to function like one. We come to Church and receive the Sacrament not to “take something” for ourselves. We are drawn into the very life of the Holy Trinity and our “Amen” when receiving this gift means that we are saying “so be it” - let this be the reality in my life!  Like the good Shepherd, I will lay down my life for the good of others.

We can never set aside our identity to fit in with society, any more than a spiritual elder can set aside his responsibility and his role of guiding and forming others. Therefore, this letter we are reading is not simply a pious exhortation but rather a call to revolution; that is, a call to radical repentance. We must turn to God in every way in order that by His grace we might love others as He has loved us.

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Text of chat during the group:

00:04:54 susan: asking prayers for my son peter and 16 week pregnant wife in la brea la below fires.

00:11:19 Rebecca Thérèse: Reacted to "asking prayers for m..." with 🙏

00:20:42 David: Having lived in Latin America for 12 years. Another notable difference is the priest often goes and meets everyone in the parish. I do think a lot of vacation days and shorter work hours help community as well.

00:25:21 Myles Davidson: The Protestant work ‘ethic’ has a lot to answer for

00:25:40 Wayne: Reacted to "The Protestant work ..." with 👍

00:25:50 David: Work to live not live to work is the saying in Spanish

00:25:56 Anthony: For the change in culture, see A History of the Protestant Reformation in England and Ireland by Cobbett.

00:26:16 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "Work to live not liv..." with 👍

00:31:30 Bob Cihak, AZ: Re: priests and visiting their flock: Our Ruthenian church, at least in the wester USA Phoenix eparchy, has a strong tradition of annual House Blessings, (at least in the 3 out of about 20 Parishes that we know well) which does get the priest visiting parishioners, including a Gomez family here in CA. The family has 14 children and many grandchildren. The house was full AND they hosted a very good dinner for the family and the priest's family (my wife and me).

00:35:26 David: When I grew up near Lake Superior every house had a BMC and two crosses put on each door jam by the priest but that was Franciscans

00:35:38 Una: How can a priest balance his need for friendship with being a pastor. If the friend elects to go to confession to another priest, isn't that perhaps preferable. Especially if the person can find another good priest?

00:36:50 Myles Davidson: Our priest is doing house blessings as we speak

00:43:01 Kelli: PRIDE

00:45:06 David: A nice way to handle that is great question how can we find the truth and then delegate yourself and others to come back with different things.
00:50:08 David: Leaders at least in business are best chosen by those who people follow not appointed.

00:53:56 David: Does some of that be the secular take and separation of church and state? It almost seems like there is tolerance or opinions about everything but values based on faith sometimes. When one decides when human life begins there is faith on both sides.

00:55:43 David: I am just wondering if a lot of the difference it based on secular beliefs

00:56:21 David: We act one way in church and are pressured to relativism in the world.

01:04:10 Lyle: Amen, Father.

01:04:34 David: Mmm monetizing BINGO or spiritual direction great point

01:11:38 Lyle: The Holy Spirit can do it!

01:12:04 Maureen Cunningham: Church in Egypt and Middle East is being persecuted

01:12:35 Myles Davidson: The growing interest in the desert fathers in the Church is going to change it in a dramatic way eventually I think

01:13:13 Anna Lalonde: Holy Spirit was moving in you. Don't apologize.

01:14:02 Bob Cihak, AZ: Replying to "Holy Spirit was movi..."

Preach it, Father!!!

01:14:10 Bob Cihak, AZ: Reacted to "Holy Spirit was movi..." with 👍

01:14:15 ANDREW ADAMS: Reacted to "Holy Spirit was movi..." with 👍

01:14:27 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "Preach it, Father!!!" with 🔥

01:15:05 Maureen Cunningham: Thank You Father and everyone such a Blessing

01:15:14 ANDREW ADAMS: Thank you, Father!

01:15:16 Suzanne Romano: Pax Vobiscum!

01:15:17 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you🙂

01:15:20 Deiren Masterson: Thank you Father

01:15:21 David: Thank you father God bless

01:15:35 Cindy Moran: Thank you@