A Deadly Passion

An Instruction for the Thirtieth Sunday after Pentecost

And a certain ruler questioned Him (Jesus Christ), saying: «Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?» (Lk 18:18)

This most important, vital question, put to Jesus Christ by one of the rulers of the Jews, was resolved later, over the course of centuries, by the holy saints of God in the most positive, decisive manner worthy of universal imitation: by the diligent fulfillment of Christ’s commandments, by contempt for this vain earthly life and for the passion-ridden flesh, by the most earnest care for the soul, the immortal essence, and by an unswerving striving toward eternal life. The examples of this are beyond number in ancient times, in the middle ages, and in modern times. But let us hear what answer Jesus Christ gave to the ruler, the Jewish official, in reply to his question: what must I do to inherit eternal life? The Lord answered him: «You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and your mother. And he said: all this I have kept from my youth. Hearing this, Jesus said to him: one thing is still lacking for you. Sell everything you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow Me. But when he heard this, he was grieved, because he was very rich. Jesus, seeing that he was grieved, said: how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Those who heard this said: who then can be saved? But He said: what is impossible with men is possible with God»[1]. On these words the Gospel reading for today ends.

From what has been said it is evident that everyone who wishes to inherit eternal life must keep the commandments, the essence of which is love for God and for one’s neighbor. The Jewish ruler, it seemed, kept them and was not far from the kingdom of God, but when put to the test it turned out that he lacked one labor, and a very important one—namely, to renounce his attachment to riches, which was the idol of his heart, drew him away from God and made him hard-hearted toward the poor, and because of which he could not sincerely love either God or his neighbor. Such is the passion for riches! It takes deep root in a man’s heart and imperceptibly undermines his spiritual life, as a woodworm undermines wood. A man devoted to the passion of covetousness may, apparently, be pious; he always prays to God, though superficially; he observes outward chastity, and honesty in his dealings and affairs with his neighbors and fellow citizens; he turns away from lies and slander—and he is not averse to almsgiving either, though in accordance with his own view of it, his own understanding and taste, or out of vainglory; when, however, a greater sacrifice is required of him, one demanding self-denial and the surrender of a few of his possessions—when heavenly righteousness demands of him that he shatter the idol he has zealously served, which he has always cherished, perhaps without noticing it himself—then it turns out that he is wholly in the power of that idol, that is, of covetousness. Then he suddenly grows cold toward God and his neighbors; then even eternal life, of which he had formerly thought and which he desired, is no longer so dear to him; then the passion for riches proves to be, as it were, a cancer—a certain disease of the body—which has driven its deadly roots deep into his heart and is destroying it. All the virtues he formerly practiced are choked and, as it were, die, like wheat seeds choked by noxious weeds. This is what, according to the well-known folk saying, is called «a barrel of honey, and a spoonful of tar»: how one passion infects all good deeds and ruins them! — And since covetousness poses such a danger to the immortal soul, it is evident that it must be rooted out by diligent almsgiving, by contempt for luxury, by moderation in everything, by fasting and prayer—by convincing oneself of the vanity and corruptibility of everything earthly, and of the incomparable superiority of the eternal, enduring goods over the corruptible, coarse goods that vanish like smoke. Therefore, my brethren, we must practice not one, not merely two or three virtues, but all of them, as far as we are able, so that we may be perfect and be lacking in no virtue. That you may be perfect and whole in every way, deficient in nothing[2], says the holy Apostle James. Be perfect, then, as your heavenly Father is perfect[3], says the Lord in the Gospel.

When the rich young ruler went away from the Lord in sorrow, and the Lord said that it is hard for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of heaven, the Lord’s disciples asked their Teacher in astonishment: Who then can be saved? He said: what is impossible with men is possible with God. This means that God can, by His grace, soften and heal even the heart of the money-loving rich man, enlighten the eyes of his heart blinded by greed, convincingly set before his mind and heart the corruptibility and worthlessness of earthly riches and the eternity, incomparable beauty, and sweetness of the blessings of the heavenly kingdom, which he can receive in place of earthly goods—and the impossible will become possible for him—he will give alms generously to the poor whom he had formerly disdained, will make progress in every virtue, ascend from strength to strength, and thus be counted worthy of eternal life.

The epistle reading for today serves as a kind of continuation, explanation, and development of the Gospel; it sets before us a whole array of Christian virtues: mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, peace, patience, forbearance and all-forgiveness, and the head and root of all the virtues—love. It is read as follows: Put on, as God’s chosen holy and beloved ones, mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against anyone: as Christ forgave you, so also do you. But above all, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God reign in your hearts, to which you were also called in one body, and be friendly. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom; teach and admonish one another with psalms, praises, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord[4]. So then, if we desire eternal life, let us detach ourselves from attachment to life temporal and to temporal goods, until the time comes to part with them of necessity—and let us put on love for God and our neighbor, which is the bond of perfection; let us hold fast to peace with all, without which no one will see God[5], and let us continually practice praise, in church and at home. Amen.