1 Saint John 4:4 ... greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
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During the reign of Emperor Arcadius, the relics of many martyrs of Christ were unearthed, among whom was the Apostle Andronicus and his female assistant Junia. "Great Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before me." (Romans 16:7).
These relics were discovered according to a revelation from God to a cleric Nicholas Calligraphus. "Their names are known only to God Who has written their names in the Book of Life in the heavens." In the twelfth century, Emperor Andronicus II built a beautiful church over the relics of the Apostle Andronicus.
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1 Saint John 3:21-4:11 KJV
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Saint Mark 14:43-15:1 KJV
43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
15 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
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| Saint John Climacos The Ladder of Divine Ascent |
Obviously St John is writing to those who have chosen a path geared for the ascetical level of renunciation of the disfigured passions. Nevertheless, we who have not chosen the monastic life must carefully adjust the directives St John gives. If you find it difficult to do so, do not neglect asking.
Our Savior requires renunciation of all mankind, whatever mode of life one chooses, if he or she is to qualify and be granted the prize of Eternal Life in Paradise.
JUDGMENTAL
In the previous chapter of the Ladder, St. John wrote concisely on just how hazardous it is to be judgmental, and how this sin sneaks into the hearts of people that appear to be very spiritual. We also wrote how it is blessed to put oneself under the rebuke and reproof of the tongue. Here we must demonstrate the root cause of this sin, and give a report on the mode of entry, or rather, exit.
is the throne of pride, which delights itself in showing off. To do so is a mark of ignorance, a gateway to slander, a slave of untruth, the destruction of remorse, the author of depression, the forerunner of sleep, the dissolution of memory, the ruin of vigil, the cooling of zeal, the dimming of prayer.
INTENTIONAL STILLNESS
is the mother of prayer, a calling back from imprisonment, a preserving of fire, a director of the mind, a vigil against enemies, a jail of sorrow, a companion of teardrops, a powerful remembrance of death, an artist of correction, a busybody with judgment, an assistant to distress, an enemy of liberty of speaking, a friend of quietness, an enemy of the desire to instruction, an increase of understanding, an author of meditation, secret progress, unseen rising.
THE MINDFUL TONGUE
THE MINDFUL TONGUE
The one who has become mindful of his vices has mastered his tongue, but a gregarious person has not yet understood himself as he should. The companion of stillness draws close to God, and by speaking with Him privately, he is enlightened by God. Jesus' silence made a disgrace of Pilate, and by a man's silence, pride is overcome. When Peter spoke a word, he grieved bitterly, because he forgot the one who said, "I said, I will be mindful of my ways that with my tongue I do not sin." Also the other who said, "A fall from on high to the earth is better than a trip of the tongue."
I have no desire to write many things on this topic, even though the trickery of the passion would like me to do so. But once, I heard from someone who questioned me about stillness. I told him that chattiness is certainly the offspring of either a poor, lazy setting and habit (because the tongue requires discipline like the rest of the body), or, especially in the case of ascetics, chattiness is rooted in pride, and at times gluttony. This is the reason why many who check the stomach through violence are able to easily bridle the tongue and its loose lips. The one who is concerned with his own death, reduces his use of words. And the one who has received spiritual grief, avoids chattiness like fire. The one who has fallen in love with stillness keeps his mouth shut, but the one that enjoys roaming about is pushed out of his cell by this passion. The one who understands the aroma of fire from up high, flees from conversation with men like a honeybee from smoke. For the bee is driven back by smoke, while a man is delayed by company. There are few who can hold water without a bucket and still fewer who can control an unrestrained tongue. Step eleven. The one who has conquered it has smitten a variety of evils.
I have no desire to write many things on this topic, even though the trickery of the passion would like me to do so. But once, I heard from someone who questioned me about stillness. I told him that chattiness is certainly the offspring of either a poor, lazy setting and habit (because the tongue requires discipline like the rest of the body), or, especially in the case of ascetics, chattiness is rooted in pride, and at times gluttony. This is the reason why many who check the stomach through violence are able to easily bridle the tongue and its loose lips. The one who is concerned with his own death, reduces his use of words. And the one who has received spiritual grief, avoids chattiness like fire. The one who has fallen in love with stillness keeps his mouth shut, but the one that enjoys roaming about is pushed out of his cell by this passion. The one who understands the aroma of fire from up high, flees from conversation with men like a honeybee from smoke. For the bee is driven back by smoke, while a man is delayed by company. There are few who can hold water without a bucket and still fewer who can control an unrestrained tongue. Step eleven. The one who has conquered it has smitten a variety of evils.
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