Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord!

In today’s Gospel reading, we heard our Lord Jesus Christ teach that firstly we must serve God and take care of our souls, and to think less of the cares of this earthly life. Today’s Gospel message is relatively clear; we must only accept this message into our hearts and somehow apply them to our own personal lives. Although the main idea behind today’s Gospel reading is relatively straightforward, the first two verses of today’s excerpt remain unclear. Various questions regarding them arise. What is a single and evil eye, a body full of light or darkness? How can the light that is in someone (in general, what is this light?) be darkness? Why are the eyes the light of the body and not the soul, for it would be easier to explain these verses if they were discussing not the body, but the soul or the heart? Today let’s try to bring the meaning of these verses into focus.

The Holy Hierarch John Chrysostom, as many of the other exegetes of Holy Scripture, explain these words quite simply. Although the idea behind these words is naturally spiritual, they are directly related to the physical world. Sight gives a person the ability to see not only the world around him, but also his own personal body. A single eye is a healthy eye, that is, one that can see clearly. Such eyes notice everything, even the flaws of one’s own body, and give a person the chance to cure these ailments. An evil eye is a diseased eye which cannot make anything out, including a person’s own body and those ailments which might be afflicting it. To a person with poor eyesight everything may appear good, clean, tidy, and beautiful, but in fact, everything is not so, that is, he is being tricked, or, as the Saviour puts it: “If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Considering the above explanation, it becomes clear that these words are a metaphor for the spiritual life. We can sum them up in the following way: in the same way that it is imperative to have healthy physical eyes so as to properly see not only the world around us, but also our own bodies, it is necessary to have healthy spiritual eyes to see the true state of our own souls. Without healthy spiritual eyes, one can be seriously mistaken as to the state of his soul. Saint Anthony the Great says that spiritual eyes are self-examination and prudence. It is imperative to accurately and critically watch over oneself and take note of one’s weaknesses.

St. Anthony continues that self-examination is one and the same as seeking advice. I will add from myself that it is near impossible for us to see ourselves as we truly are. Sins dull our spiritual sight and it becomes difficult to examine ourselves. Therefore, the advice and explanation of Anthony the Great are very precious. We need to look for good spiritual counsel in Holy Scripture, in the writings of the Holy Fathers, from our older and more experienced brothers and sisters in Christ and to take this advice to heart. God-willing in such a way we will cleanse our blinded spiritual eyes, will see our sins, blot them out, and clearly perceive the way into the Kingdom of Heaven.

priest Alexis