The Ladder of Divine Ascent - Chapter IX: On Remembrance of Wrongs, Part II and Chapter X: On Slander or Calumny, Part I

The subtle movements of the human heart and mind stand revealed while reading the Ladder of Divine Ascent. As one makes one’s way through the text, it becomes clear that it is an inevitability. We must stand ready to have our hearts illuminated and the places that we desire to keep in darkness, whether consciously or unconsciously, exposed. Yet, somehow, when these words come from the pen of a Saint, there is a healing that one begins to experience; even as we know the sting of the words. Knowing and seeing the truth lightens the mind and the heart and opens us to experience the grace and the mercy of God. By removing the impediments to the action of that grace, we find ourselves no longer running with a heavy tread under the burden and the weight of some hidden guilt or wound, but freely and swiftly moving towards He who is Love. 

The jarring nature of John’s words is eventually overcome by the confidence in his desire, as well as God’s, to bring us healing. Such is the case with John’s description of the remembrance of wrongs. He makes it clear that without remedy, it can poison the heart and become dark spite. The more we nurture our anger, the more the heart becomes poisoned, and we eventually only see the faults of others.  To be free of this burden, he tells us, allows us to boldly ask our Savior for the release of our own sins. 

John would have us show no hesitancy and experience no doubt about what coming to God brings us. If we do not attend to this wound, what is born from it is slander. This, he tells us, drains the blood of love and becomes the patron of a heavy and unclean heart. In our anger, we may diminish another through our words, but the consequence that has for ourselves is far greater. It is a coarse disease that only Christ and gazing upon Christ crucified can heal.

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Text of chat during the group: 

00:07:24 Anthony Rago: Tractor Supply, too

 

00:08:15 Anthony Rago: time for an exorcism of the air....

 

00:09:39 FrDavid Abernethy: page 126 para 13

 

00:12:43 Cindy Moran: Oooo...Yes!

 

00:22:53 Anthony Rago: Then this would apply also to wrongs WE have done, too, that filter our His healing?

 

00:27:03 sue and mark: I have found that if I am struggling in this area..that if I ask God to forgive them for me...  it is easier  also to bring me to that place of forgiveness that he desires

 

00:32:12 Anthony Rago: This is what I have a hard time understanding: sin, mortal and venial, which is emphasized so much in the admonishion if frequent confessions....so much emphasis on me, me, me.

 

00:35:42 Anthony Rago: How often is good?

 

00:39:56 Anthony Rago: Thank you

 

00:55:41 Rebecca Thérèse: I'm still puzzled as to the difference between spite and dark spite

 

00:57:43 Cindy Moran: Who is the author of the book you mentioned last week "Orthodox Psychotherapy"?

 

00:57:44 Ambrose Little, OP: Maybe something like.. If you harbor it secretly in the “darkness” of your inner self. You don’t allow it to be brought into the Light, examined for what it is, and see that it is wrong and needs to be eliminated.

 

00:57:59 carol: Dark definition includes “angry, threatening, arising from evil, sinister”

 

00:58:38 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you all

 

01:01:16 Ambrose Little, OP: “Speaking the truth in love” is one of the most abused phrases.

 

01:03:23 Anthony Rago: Chastity covers up, it is modest.  Unchastity is an unholy exposure.

 

01:11:29 Rachel: LOL

 

01:11:49 Anthony Rago: I think you're right.  More St. Francis is needed, less "vert few will be saved."

 

01:13:08 Lee Graham: The river of life flowing out of us

 

01:14:37 Rachel: ouch

 

01:15:45 Rachel: Thank you

 

01:15:47 Jeff O.: Thank you!

 

01:15:56 Devansh Shukla: Thank you

 

01:15:57 Rachel: YES!!

 

01:16:08 Bernadette Truta: Yes please!

 

01:16:09 Art: Thank you good night.  Yes I’m interested in the Zoom group on fasting.

 

01:16:10 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you 🙂

 

01:16:10 Ambrose Little, OP: Yes

 

01:16:12 Deb Dayton: Is this in person?

 

01:16:13 sue and mark: yes

 

01:16:16 Jacqulyn: Yes... I am interested!

 

01:16:19 Sr Barbara Jean Mihalchick: when?