Virtues Are the Steps of the Ladder Leading to Heaven
February 16
(An Edifying Parable from the Paterikon.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
February 16
(An Edifying Parable from the Paterikon.)
By Archpriest Victor Guryev
Among the teachings and counsels of the Holy Fathers there are parables that are very instructive and greatly beneficial for the salvation of the soul. Today I will relate one of them.
A certain simple layman, a pious man, once came in the company of many other Christians to the Venerable Poemen and asked him for instruction. Poemen replied: “Today you yourself speak a word to the brethren.”
The visitor exclaimed, “How can I, wretched as I am, speak, Father?”
“You,” Poemen answered - and all present joined him, insisting that the simple man speak.
Then he said: “I am an unlearned man and cannot say anything except the following parable, which I once heard from a great elder. Here it is.
A certain man desired to see the king and asked one of his friends to escort him to the king. The friend agreed and said, ‘I will accompany you halfway.’ Then the man turned to a second friend and likewise asked to be escorted. He agreed and said, ‘I will take you as far as the palace.’ Finally, the one who wished to see the king asked a third friend, who agreed not only to accompany him but also to bring him into the king’s very presence."
After this, those listening asked, "And what does this parable mean?"
He explained: "The first friend is fasting, which brings us to the middle of the saving path. The second is chastity, which leads us to heaven. The third is obedience, which brings us with boldness into the presence of God.”
All were edified and glorified God.
Why, you may ask, is this parable instructive? Because, brethren, it shows that the virtues are inseparably linked to one another; that they are like the steps of a ladder leading to heaven; and that having acquired one virtue, we must at the same time strive to obtain another, and so on.
In the parable it is said that among the things leading to salvation are fasting, chastity, and obedience. If you remove any one of these virtues, is salvation conceivable? Clearly not. Hold fast to fasting and obedience but abandon chastity — you are lost. Take up fasting and chastity but lack obedience, trusting only in your own mind — the result is the same.
Thus, brethren, in zeal for our salvation we must not think that a single ascetic labor on our part is sufficient. To one spiritual effort let us add another; advancing in one virtue, let us also strive to acquire and grow in another. Only under this condition is our salvation secure. Amen.
Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.