The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent: St. John Climacus and the Ascent to God
Gerald Largent
As Orthodox Christians journey through Great Lent, each Sunday serves as a spiritual milestone, guiding us deeper into repentance, prayer, and renewal. The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to St. John Climacus, also known as St. John of the Ladder, a revered monastic father of the Church whose teachings continue to inspire and challenge the faithful.
Who Was St. John Climacus?
St. John Climacus was a 6th-7th century monk and abbot of St. Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai. His most well-known work, *The Ladder of Divine Ascent*, is a spiritual treatise describing the path of the soul toward union with God. The book presents a metaphorical ladder of thirty steps, each representing a virtue or struggle in the Christian life, leading ultimately to divine love.
Why Is This Sunday Dedicated to St. John Climacus?
The Church appoints this Sunday to honor St. John Climacus because his teachings on spiritual struggle align perfectly with the Lenten journey. Lent is a time of self-examination, fasting, and repentance, all of which are necessary for ascending the spiritual ladder toward Christ. His writings remind us that the Christian life is one of continuous ascent, requiring humility, perseverance, and reliance on God’s grace.
The Gospel Reading: Mark 9:17-31
On this Sunday, the Gospel reading recounts Christ healing a demon-possessed boy after His disciples failed to do so. When the boy’s father pleads, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24), Christ responds that such miracles come about “by prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). This passage underscores the necessity of faith, prayer, and fasting in our spiritual lives—key disciplines emphasized in St. John Climacus’ writings.
Lessons for Our Lenten Journey
1. Spiritual Growth Requires Effort – Like the ascent of a ladder, our growth in Christ requires struggle, patience, and persistence.
2. Humility is Key – St. John emphasizes that pride prevents us from drawing near to God, while humility allows His grace to work in us.
3. Prayer and Fasting Are Essential – Just as Christ taught in the Gospel, St. John stresses that prayer and fasting strengthen the soul against temptations.
4. Love is the Highest Step – The ultimate goal of the spiritual life is love—love for God and neighbor, which is the highest step of the ladder.
Climbing the Ladder Together
The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent reminds us that the Christian life is a journey of continual ascent. With St. John Climacus as our guide and Christ as our goal, we press on in our Lenten efforts, knowing that every step taken in faith brings us closer to the Kingdom of God.
As we move forward in our Lenten pilgrimage, may we embrace the lessons of St. John Climacus and continue climbing the ladder toward divine love, one step at a time.