In March, a group of Hispanic members of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference had the opportunity to take a trip to learn about the Protestant Reformation. Many of them were taught in the traditions of the Catholic Church and had dreamed of taking a trip to Rome and climbing the Scala Santa. For many Catholics, traveling to Rome and being able to ascend the Scala Santa staircase on their knees is as essential as for a Muslim to be able to go, at least once in their life, to Mecca or for a Jew to be able to go pray at the Wailing Wall. However, they were there not to climb it on their knees but to thank God for Christ Jesus and the power in His Word.
Although there is no written documentation, tradition says that Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine and an avid collector of relics of Jesus in the 4th century, had the ladder with 28 steps brought from Jerusalem in the year 326. Tradition says it is the same ladder as Jesus went up on Friday before being condemned by Pilate and crucified. The marble staircase was covered with wood in 1723 due to the wear and tear on the marble from the number of people who climbed it on their knees daily. In the wood, there are small glass windows through which one can see, according to tradition, where drops of Jesus’ blood fell on the marble. People usually kiss these little windows while they ascend on their knees and pray on each of its 28 steps.
In 1510, a young Catholic priest seeking inner peace was sent to Rome. Martin Luther believed it was necessary to follow the customs of pilgrims, and, among other things, he climbed the Scala Santa on his knees, praying for Our Father on each step. It is said that during his ascension he remembered in a contradictory way the quote from the apostle Paul: “The righteous will live by faith.” And standing up with shame of his beliefs and confusion, he walked down the stairs and returned to Wittenberg, Germany. There he devoted himself to studying the Holy Scriptures and found the peace he sought. Luther dedicated all his strength to preaching that peace, summarized in a famous phrase: When I look at myself, I see it is impossible to save myself; When I look at Christ, I see it is impossible to lose myself.
Humans naturally look at ourselves and judge whether we are worthy of entering heaven. And what’s worse, we often compare ourselves to other people to convince ourselves that we are good enough to be saved. We can spend our lives doing this, climb a Scala Santa, or pray in some particular place, believing that this puts us in a better position before the Judge. But none of this will give us peace or salvation. That is why Jesus repeated the same thing so many times: TRUST ME. Our eyes must look to Jesus daily to learn that we can trust Him with everything.
When the trip concluded we all returned, like Luther, with the conviction to continue preaching the gospel of peace, the message of Christ: TRUST ME.
