Orienting the Liturgy-- Reflections on the Ladder of Divine Ascent

The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent—The Sunday of our Venerable Father John of the Ladder (Tone 8)

[The Fourth Sunday of Great Lent commemorates our holy father John of the Ladder.  St. John was the abbot of St. Catherine’s Monastery at Sinai during most of the eighth century.  He wrote a book of spiritual direction for his monks, which is called the Ladder of Divine Ascent.  The Ladder consists of thirty chapters called “steps.”  It has become the custom in the Byzantine Church to read the entire Ladder during the season of Great Lent.  From the Monday after the Sunday of Forgiveness to the Friday before Lazarus Saturday there are thirty weekdays.  One step is traditionally assigned to each of these weekdays. ]

Tropar, Tone 8

You came down from on high, O Merciful One, and accepted three days of burial to free us from our sufferings. O Lord, our life and our resurrection, glory to You.

Tropar of the Triodion, Tone 1

O John, our God-bearing Father, you were shown to be a citizen of the desert, and angel in bodily form, and a worker of miracles. Through fasting, prayers and vigils you received heavenly gifts to heal the sick and the souls of those who, with faith, run to you. Glory to Him who gives you strength, glory to Him who crowned you. Glory to Him who works healing for all through you.

[The healing that is available from St. John of the Ladder is, for the most part, that which comes from the book, which he wrote.  The Ladder teaches the science of virtue, ways to grow in relationship with the Lord, ways to resist temptation and methods to destroy vice.]

Glory…Now…

Kondak of the Triodion, Tone 4

On the heights of true abstinence, the Lord established you as a reliable star, giving light for guidance to the ends of the earth, O father John, our teacher.

Prokimen, Tone 8

Pray and give praise to the Lord our God.

v. In Judea God is known; His name is great in Israel.

Prokimen of the Triodion, Tone 8

The venerable ones will exult in glory and they shall be joyful in their beds.

A READING FROM THE LETTER OF SAINT PAUL,
THE APOSTLE, TO HEBREWS:

Brethren, when God made the promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, "he swore by himself," and said, "I will indeed bless you and multiply" you. And so, after patient waiting, he obtained the promise. Human beings swear by someone greater than themselves; for them an oath serves as a guarantee and puts an end to all argument. So when God wanted to give the heirs of his promise an even clearer demonstration of the immutability of his purpose, he intervened with an oath, so that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to hold fast to the hope that lies before us. This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil, where Jesus has entered on our behalf as forerunner, becoming high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (6:13-20)

[The epistle reading continues to meditate on the truths and mysteries that will be fully revealed to us at Pascha.  Already the Church is preparing us to enter into a profitable contemplation of the life-giving suffering, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  These mysteries have made the Lord Jesus the one perfect mediator between us and God.  Although He is God Himself, He is also perfect man.  As such, He is able to exercise the ministry of the priesthood through a reconciliation that is achieved in His Person.]

Alleluia, Tone 8

Come, let us rejoice in the Lord; let us acclaim God our Saviour.

v. Let us come before His countenance with praise and acclaim Him with psalms.

Alleluia of the Triodion, Tone 8

They who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL

ACCORDING TO SAINT MARK:

At that time, a man came to Jesus, kneeling down and saying unto him, "Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so." He said to them in reply, "O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me." They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. Then he questioned his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" He replied, "Since childhood. It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, " 'If you can!' Everything is possible to one who has faith." Then the boy's father cried out, "I do believe, help my unbelief!" Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, "Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!" Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, "He is dead!" But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, "Why could we not drive it out?" He said to them, "This kind can only come out through prayer. "They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise." (9:17-31)

[This Gospel reading occurs directly after the account of the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor.  The disciples Peter, James and John have come down from the mountain where they received the special revelation of the Lord Jesus glorified in the company of the Old Testament prophets Moses and Elijah.  They also received the stupefying warning that they were not reveal what had happened until “the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” As soon as they reach the plain below the mountain, they encounter the crowd spoken of in today’s gospel reading.  Immediately after the miraculous cure noted here, Jesus begins his journey to Jerusalem for the Passover.]

Zadostoynyk of the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great

In you, O Full of Grace, all creation rejoices: the angelic ranks and all the human race. Sanctified temple and spiritual paradise, virgins’ pride and boast, from whom God is made flesh and became a little Child; and He who is our God before the ages, He made your womb a throne, and He made it wider than all the heavens. In you, Full of Grace, all creation rejoices. Glory be to you.

Communion verse

Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise Him in the highest.

The just man shall be in everlasting remembrance; of evil hearsay he shall have no fear. Alleluia (3)