A Message from Father David

 

The Orthodox Christian life is a journey. It’s a step-by-step process, demanding our cooperation with the Grace of God. We walk by faith, step-by-step, self-aware, observing our progress, and repenting of our failings, our stumbles. We fall, but we get up again. It is not merely a question of what we say we believe, but how our beliefs match our actions. One particular biblical image of this life is that of the ladder – Jacob’s ladder, and it is this image that is fully described in St. John Climacus’ book, “The Ladder of Divine Ascent.” All of us on our Journey to Holiness are ascending, step by step. The demons seek to pull us off the “ladder,” seeking to obstruct and distract us from our Journey to the Kingdom. One of the laws of the spiritual life is that the more we are engaged in seeking God, the more opposition we can expect from the enemy who seeks our destruction. Great Lent is a time of intensified spiritual struggle. Do not be surprised if you experience more spiritual pressure, more struggle. In the face of intensified temptation, intensified awareness of your own weakness, turn to Christ. Turn to Him, who gives us His strength and grace to withstand the temptations, the attacks, and keeps us on the ladder, ascending rung by rung towards communion with Him. We do this by prayer, by fasting, and by almsgiving. These are the means by which we remain steadfast in our faith, and resolutely ascend the Ladder to holiness, step by step. Good strength!

 

Blessings,

Fr. David

 

Blessings,

Fr. David