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| Source: oca.org |
Returning to St. John Klimakos and The Ladder of Divine Ascent, I would like to make available two wonderful texts from STEP 1 of the Ladder. Here it is not simply the austere ascetic from Sinai analyzing the passions and the virtues; but a very open-minded Christian speaking to all Christians of no matter what particular vocation. He reminds us of the generosity of God and of those essential qualities of living and relating to others that reflect basic decency and honesty.
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God is the life of all free beings. He is the salvation of believers and unbelievers, of the just or the unjust ... of monks or those living in the world, of the educated or the illiterate, of the healthy or the sick, of the young or the very old. He is like the outpouring of light, the glimpse of the sun, or the changes of the weather, which are the same for everyone without exception. "For God is no respecter of persons." (Rom. 2:11)
Do whatever good you may. Speak evil of no one. Rob no one. Tell no lie. Despise no one and carry no hate. Do not separate yourselves from the church assemblies. Show compassion to the needy. Do not be a cause of scandal to anyone. Stay away from the bed of another, and be satisfied with what your own spouse can provide you. If you do all of this, you will not be far from the kingdom of heaven. (STEP 1)
