It’s quite a mountain we try to climb in this world. At times it feels like it goes straight up, like a smaller mountain I know of in Harper’s Ferry, WV. There’s a section of a small mountain named Maryland Heights that, when one feels the urge to hike it, it’s a straight shot uphill for a few hundred yards before it begins to level off. This, of course, would symbolize the tougher, shorter climbs we encounter over the length of our lives. Not all of them, I pray, are lengthy hills that never seem to level off.
There are other mountains that are more gradual, less strenuous on the feet and breath, doable for most people. There’s a mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley called Massanutten Mountain. At the northern tip of Massanutten is a spot called Signal Knob. It takes almost two hours to reach the summit from the floor. Some of the climb is hilly, but not so hilly as the section on Maryland Heights at Harper’s Ferry. Heading up to Signal Knob, there are a number of spots that are more level, or just slightly hilly. If life could be like the climb to Signal Knob at the northern tip of Massanutten Mountain, it would not be so bad. It’s a climb I’ve done 3 or 4 times over the years, but also a climb I’d love to do once more before calling it quits on this respective mountain. The view overlooking the Shenandoah Valley from the top of Signal Knob is, well, fabulous. It’s worth the climb of almost 2 hours, to sit there on top and look out over the “Daughter of the Stars,” taking in a scene that only God could create.
And then there are mountains, high and low, tall and short, with hiking trails that vary in difficulty and degree. I think of Mount Wachusett up the road in Princeton. This is a small mountain when placed alongside most others, especially the Rockies or Sierra-Nevada range. However, we are proud to have this mountain in our backyard, even if folks make light of its size, calling it a small bump and a few other inconsiderate names. If you were a mountain, would want to be called such names that attempt to contradict your essence? I sure would not. Small people are God’s children just as much as Andre the Giant. In fact, I would take St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) any day of the week over any NBA center you either know or don’t know. At 4-foot whatever, she’s way more of a giant than they are. Do they get their hands dirty with feeding the poor, or caring for the sickest of the sick? Not like she did then, and not like her Sisters of Charity do now. Mount Wachusett has much going for it, with the scene from the top of that small mountain much worth the climb on a clear autumn afternoon. At least a person can breathe on the top of Mount Wachusett. Let me know if the same happens on top of the Rocky Mountains.
The other mountain up the road a little ways into New Hampshire is Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey. I’ve climbed most of the way up this mountain only once; with a Confirmation Class of students from Immaculate Conception as part of a relaxed retreat sort of day. Commune with the nature God has created and entrusted to us, was the idea. Not only is Mount Monadnock a beautiful spot, but the ride up through the north county is almost as handsome as the view from near the summit of Monadnock. Even more so at this time of year with the much foliage along the way. Monadnock would be akin to climbing Signal Knob in Virginia in the sense of it being about a 2-hour hike to arrive near the top. As with any mountain overlooking a vast area of land once you arrive at a spot where the view is clear, what’s to be found on Mount Monadnock is spectacular. I think I could see the Church spire of Worcester’s Immaculate Conception from up there. Well, not really, but the view was long, seeing into the “windows” of states that border New Hampshire.
These, of course, are just a few of the mountains God has created over millions of years for our spiritual and physical edification. For those who climb mountains for a hobby, or even professionally, if there is such a thing, in many cases we do so for various reasons, which include the view at the top (this would be Signal Knob for yours truly), and/or, the exercise that results from the climb. Or, the fresh air to be breathed on a mountain climb, or the scenery that may be encountered along the way up or down. Anyone who has climbed a mountain or two over the years knows that the hardest part of the climb on a mountain is not going up. The more dangerous part is coming down. Most falls and injuries – but not all – happen on the climber’s descent. Which makes sense. If a climber falls going up, chances are they will not advance 20 feet in the upward direction. But if they fall going done, a climber can fall 20 feet or more in the direction that gravity takes us. Which, needless to say, can result in serious injury, or even death from injuries.
In our present climb, the one we’ve been doing for years on end by now, the climb up God’s mountain is a climb that calls us to keep ascending, without descending too far along the way. This can be tricky business, since we encounter many obstacles along the way that may cause us to fall. But, if our fall is in the upward direction, the direction that brings us closer and closer to the summit of God’s holy mountain, we will likely not fall very far. Certainly, less than 20 feet worth of our life. We will, through God’s strength and grace, be able to lift ourselves up with the help of a Guardian Angel (they get paid to do this) and keep “moving on up” toward the goal of good spiritual health. It’s when we begin to climb down this mountain of the Lord of hosts, a direction we are to avoid in our spiritual climb to God’s summit, that we will get away from our destination. The downward direction is dangerous for two reasons; first, we’re walking in the opposite direction that our Lord invites us to climb in this life; and second, if we intentionally climb down away from the Lord’s summit, like Jonah tried to do in the Old Testament, the chances of falling increase, as does the distance created from a downward fall, where we keep falling and falling, until we hit rock bottom, or even a rock that gets in our way. I do remember doing this on a downward ascent once. I believe it was the one and only time I climbed Monadnock. I slipped onto my backside, which was better than falling forward, and then, because of slippery conditions on that part of the mountain, I slid about 5-10 feet before hitting a rock that stopped my fast ascent. All was fine in the end, fortunately.
Our personal “God-climb,” if you will, is a climb that calls for one proper direction; uphill. Where, upon reaching the top, we find, as Isaiah writes in this week’s first reading, “a feast of rich food and choice wines.” Imagine that? A table has been set up as a reward for our faith in Jesus on the top of God’s Mountain. Rich food (Coney Island) and choice wines (chocolate milk), waiting to be served by the angels and Saints, who are the ones who serve God in excellence. I pray we may serve God the same. As mentioned, our spiritual climb will encounter some events along the way that will potentially be cause for halting our present ascent toward the Lord of hosts, or, God forbid, we turn around and head in the wrong direction for this specific climb of faith we now do. Jonah, we are not.
There seems to be a section of everyone’s personal mountain ascent to God where the climb goes straight uphill for a section of the mountain, like Maryland Heights in Harper’s Ferry. Disease and illness can cause this slowdown, or financial worries, or trying to secure the basic goods of everyday living, as many folks seem to struggle with. Other times, we are called to assist others in their ascent to God, to make their climb lighter, or make certain it continues in the upward direction. Feeding the hungry will do this for others. We assist them in their need to make certain they do not turn tail and head back down their personal mountain. Remember, this is a climb with one proper direction only; UP! Taking another person by the hand and assisting them in their need to ensure they make it to the top of God’s Mountain is a responsibility for every Christian. In fact, I would say this is one of the biggest boxes God checks off when we ourselves arrive at the top. We don’t want to be sent halfway back down (Purgatory) the mountain of rich food and choice wines because we failed to respond to those whom God sent our way for assistance up his mountain.
We are thoroughly blessed through God’s creating hand to have many levels of mountains to climb in this world. From small to large. High and low. I think of some elderly folks who do their best to come to Mass on Sundays, folks who have a difficult time getting our bed, getting prepared, and making it to Church to worship Jesus. For many of us, this would be a small mountain. But for others, it’s Mount Fuji. But there they are, still climbing. Upward they go in their hearts and souls. So, even when it appears that some have stopped in their upward ascent, they in fact continue to move uphill, putting a large smile on God’s face. But for all of us, the most proper movement in our spiritual life is north. Toward Santa Claus. Or even better, toward our Lord Jesus on his rich mountain that will never go poor.