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13th Sunday in Luke November 25, 2007 A few weeks ago, we heard of another young wealthy individual, -- a lawyer, whose arrogance sought to embarrass the Great Teacher publicly, by asking him the same question, as did today's young wealthy man. But the motives of both these young men were basically different. The young lawyer had asked the Lord what he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus answers him with a question: "You know the Mosaic Law. How do you read it? " The young lawyer answered: "You should love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said: "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you shall live." The young lawyer was embarrassed, and wanting to justify himself, questioned, "and who is my neighbor?" It is then, that the Lord came forth with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. However, the question of the rich young man of today's Gospel Lesson, as to what he had to do to gain eternal life, was not to trick, or embarrass the Lord in any way. It was a great concern of his, and he wanted some assurance for his soul, as a consolation, because it appeared as if he was really troubled. His riches were, as he thought, of no consequence, since he was born with a golden spoon in his mouth, as the saying goes. When he asked the Lord, what he needed to gain eternal life, the Lord responded: " You know the commandments: 'Do not steal, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother." To this, the young man said: "I have kept the Law since I was young boy." When the Lord heard this, He said to him: "You still lack one thing. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you shall then have great treasures in Heaven. After you have accomplished this, then come, and follow me!" When the young man heard this, he became very sad, because he was a person of great wealth. He was devastated. He sought words of consolation, and he heard the opposite. His internal strife was very troubling to him. Two diametrically opposing forces were competing within himself. He sought the Kingdom of God, --- yet he was shackled by the chains of his enormous wealth. He wanted both. A guarantee of his personal wealth, plus the assurance of a place in the Kingdom of God, without realizing, that it was impossible to serve two masters. He just wasn't strong enough to realize this. Visibly shaken, he about faces and walks away. It is then, that Jesus said: "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! And, 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." A superficial thought may surface, that the Lord was against the wealthy, but this is so untrue. We see in His Life, that He had intimate secret followers, who belonged to the aristocracy of that time. They were Joseph of Arimathea, as well as the aristocrat Nicodemus, and perhaps others. The Lord knew very well, that, which we so often observe; that people, who set their course and become wealthy materially, run the risk of becoming selfish, and to live only for their personal pleasure, so that they become blinded, in a sense to the needs of their fellow humans. If only the wealthy would realize, that in essence they are, as they should be the strong arms of God's stewardship, extreme poverty would be unknown. I have been a Priest long enough to have concluded, that it is the people of lesser means that always contribute the most proportionately, while those of greater means contribute the least, just to be on the list that they gave. These are the token givers, whose gift is of no spiritual value whatsoever. How many people turn their eyes toward Heaven, in the hope of their salvation, while they refuse to free themselves from their strictly materialistic life, as the rich young man did! Goethe, the famous German philosopher accordingly declared: "We all want to reach the summit. To get to the top. But it seems, that no one truly wants to subject themselves to ascend the steps that lead to the top. Thus, while we gaze toward the top of the mount, we still persist in walking through the valley!" How true this is! Everyone desires to get to the top, but like the rich young man, there is yet one thing people lack, which prevents so many from reaching the summit, and keeps them in the valley. The selfish person, by no means will not part even a small measure of his or her wealth. The hedonist will not divorce himself or herself from the pleasures of the flesh. The egotist, and vainly glorious person does not recognize, that there is a virtue called humility, which would return him or her to the ideal human state. The materialist will not substitute the things of this world for the higher, and nobler ideals and so forth. All these human impediments which can qualify as sinful, are obstacles, or weights, which will not permit, or better said, they preclude one, from ascending the steps, which would lead to the summit, and ultimately to salvation. "You yet lack one thing." These words addressed to the young man, are also a harsh indictment for many Christians. Regardless of our economic status, or of our position in life, there is always some minor, or major thing that we lack, which only by self-examination we should seek to correct, so that our life will be more at peace. The Parables and all the Teachings of our Lord have only one purpose, and that is, to bless us with complete contentment in this life, and also to guarantee us a place with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. But, let us not forget, that we were gifted by a free will, which makes us responsible for all our decisions. To be sure, we can never find happiness, which all people desire, if we keep looking and acting beyond our Lord's Teachings. May the Lord bless us and guide us, to always live within the perimeter of His Commandments. Amen. + Fr. George Papadeas
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