Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, as well as with the fore-feast of the Dormition of the Most-Holy Theotokos!

Today we heard the wonderful and deeply meaningful Gospel reading about the rich young man. He, it seems to me, is very much like us. We, like him, love our Saviour greatly. The young man calls Christ the Good Master. No one else in the Gospels calls the Lord in such a way. This beautiful expression clearly shows with what respect and love this young man came to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Saviour took note of these words, said nothing against them, but highlighted that only the Lord God is good. In such a manner, while already in Judea, perhaps several weeks before His death on the Cross, the Saviour gently hints at His divinity, at His consubstantial nature with the Father.

The young man asks a question that probably all of us also ask: What should I do so as to inherit eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven? He of course knows, as we all know, that we are obliged to keep the commandments, but is seeking concrete instructions. He is looking for the key or secret that will solve this mystery. We do the same thing: we look for new spiritual books to read, new saints to venerate; we seek out special prayer rules and akathists, new instructors or spiritual guides, etc. In answering the youth’s question, our Lord Jesus Christ doesn’t say anything extraordinary, but simply repeats that which is known to everyone, that is, keep the commandments. He goes on to list some of them. This answer satisfies neither the young man nor us, because we already try to live according to these commandments, and therefore the Lord adds the following somewhat harsh words: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”

Few of us will, after leaving church today, sell our homes and retire to live in a monastery; how should we therefore understand these words so as not to become like the young man from the Gospel who went away from the Saviour? Perhaps Christ, through His words, was hinting that the commandments can be kept in very different ways. We can love our neighbour by refraining from doing him any evil, or by helping when we are asked; or we can offer help, or just be kind and loving simply because we like someone, or we can be perfect and sell everything, give the money to the poor, go live in a monastery and serve the Lord God day and night. You see, there is a gradation. We can love our neighbour in very different ways. The Lord Jesus Christ is as if saying: if you wish to inherit eternal life, live according to the commandments, there are no other special secrets. If you think you are already keeping the commandments, good for you, you are doing well, but don’t be fooled, you can always keep them better and more perfectly. You could give everything to the poor and dedicate yourself fully to Me. Therefore, don’t search out new methods for salvation, but instead strive to perfection in My commandments!”

Through the prayers of the Most-Pure Theotokos, may our Lord God help us become perfect, as much as this is possible, in keeping His divine laws!

priest Alexis