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| Source: legacyicons.com |
This last Sunday, we commemorated St. John Klimakos (of the Ladder). I shared some passages from his Ladder of Divine Ascent during the homily. I would like now to share his well-known reflection on the human body, found in Step 15. This passage is incredible in that it captures all the ambiguities and tensions of our bodily existence - and existence ordained by our Creator. I am not sure if this is intentional or not in such a severe ascetic, but there is even some humor in how well St. John articulates our constant struggle with our own bodies within the realm of what we call "spiritual warfare." I believe we can only shake our heads and smile in recognition of how well he articulates our struggles with our "friend" and "enemy."
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By what rule or manner can I bind this body of mine? By what precedent can I judge him? Before I can bind him he is let loose,before I condemn him I am reconciled to him, before I can punish him I bow down to him and feel sorry for him. How can I hate him when my nature disposes me to love him? How can I break away from him when I am bound to him forever? How can I escape from him when he is going to rise with me? How can I make him incorrupt when he has received a corruptible nature? How can I argue with him when all the arguments of nature are on his side?
... He is my helper and my enemy, my assistant and my opponent, a protector and a traitor. I am kind to him and he assaults me. If I wear him out he gets weak. If he has a rest he becomes unruly. If I upset him (or, "if I turn away from him in loathing") he cannot stand it. If I mortify him I endanger myself. If I strike him down I have nothing left by which to acquire virtues. I embrace him. And I turn away from him.
What is this mystery in me? What is the principle of this mixture of body and soul? How can I be my own friend and my own enemy?
Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 15
