Thursday of the Second Week of Holy Lent

The Gospel according to St. Matthew (19: 16-30)

“16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? [f]No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”

Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore, what shall we have?”

28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

    The church arranged to read this same gospel according to Saint Mark the Evangelist in the liturgy of Tuesday-only two days ago. Today the church puts forth before us the same reading from the Gospel of Saint Matthew. The fact that the teachers of the church who, guided by the Spirit, arranged this very same reading twice in one week should prompt us, the believers, to take an attentive pause to contemplate on it and re-examine ourselves. We ought to shine the light of its words to illuminate our path, correct ourselves, and examine our conduct.

    The Holy Spirit provided inspiration of a whole book to reiterate God’s work with His people in the past, namely the book of Deuteronomy. This is not repetition for the sake of repeating the same words but seeking an abundance of benefit and drawing the attention to God’s goodness with us, His excellent work with us and love towards us.

    + Now let’s get back to today’s Gospel. Christ’s words, blessed be His name, comforts the soul. For if salvation seems impossible and defies people’s ability, it is not so with our Savior. He came down to save us. It is not conceivable that He will not. This should be a source of Divine trust and comfort for us.

    It is true that the gate is narrow, and the way is difficult, given the wars of this world and that of the flesh as well as the traps of Satan. However, “we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

    + Concerning what Saint Peter said: “See, we have left all and followed You”, it seems that he is inquiring about his wage and reward. However, indeed he opened for us the treasures of God’s true promises and Christ’s indescribable generosity. The Lord said: “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”. This revealed to us the honor and glory that was bestowed on our fathers the apostles who became the pillars of the New Testament as seen by Saint John in his revelation as the foundations of the heavenly Jerusalem.

    + Then the Lord repeated His saying:” everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.”

    These words, indeed, cause us to wonder. Is God in need? Do we, as humans, truly own anything that we could leave behind? We were born naked, and we shall leave the world naked as Job the righteous said. Everything that falls into our hands, or we have authority over is from Him. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights “. (James 1:17).

    In the olden days, David the prophet said it: “For all things come from You, And [of Your own we have given You.” (1 Chronicles 29:14). Leaving (the issues of life) behind is an act of acknowledgement of what we have received from the One who left His glory and emptied Himself. Leaving behind is a desire of the heart when the pearl of great price is found. When one finds it, he or she will sell everything so he can own it. As for the great reward, it is acquiring Christ and clinging to Him, for He is the life, the truth and the resurrection. As it is said in the psalm:” Whom have I in heaven but You?

    And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You“ (Psalm 73:25).

Fr. Louka Sidarous

(12/22)