Some people in the world living carelessly have asked me, “We have wives and many social concerns, how could we possibly lead a life of solitude?” I answer them, “Do as much good as you can; do not speak ill of anyone; do not steal; do not lie; do not be boastful; do not hate; go to church; have mercy on the poor; do not be a stumbling block to anyone; do not draw near the bed of another; and be satisfied with what you receive from your wives. If you do these things you will be close to the Kingdom of Heaven.”
The Ladder of Divine Ascent
I like this saying from The Ladder of Divine Ascent. It contains a question that many of us Orthodox ask. How can we be like the monks? How can we “lead a life of solitude?” What we are really asking is, “how can we grow in the grace of the Lord since we cannot spend a large amount of our time in prayer, in serving the Lord, in self-examination, in repentance of our sins?
Notice the answer given by St. John Climacus. Is prayer even mentioned in his answer? Does he speak of fasting? Does he speak of self-examination with a spiritual father? No, none of them are mentioned, only church. Yet, his conclusion is that “if you do these things you will be close to the Kingdom of Heaven?” What things? Why to carry out your married life and your life as a parent and your life as an individual as a sound Orthodox believer, then you have done all that is needful.
Behind his advice is the idea that each member of the Church has their calling and their part in the world. If they are fulfilling that to which they were called, in the context of the Church, then they have been obedient children of God. Thus, whether as a parent, as a farmer, as a priest, as a mechanic, as a whatever, if you are faithful in your responsibilities, if you live out your calling to love God and to love your neighbor, then you will find yourself close to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Before someone asks, no I do not think that St. John Climacus is saying that we are destined to a role in life, a position in society that cannot be changed. But then, neither is he saying that we can be whatever we wish. That type of question is not even considered by him. Rather, his focus is on faithfulness and on practical expressions of love, and on pointing out that a non-monk can also achieve as much holiness here on Earth as a monk.
Whether monk or non-monk, we each have our callings. And, we all have the royal commandments: to love God and to love our neighbor. And, we have the Church, the Bride of Christ. Our part is grace-filled and Spirit-guided faithfulness in whatever state in which we find ourselves.
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