Thursday, September 24 : Saint John Chrysostom

Christ had said to the young man: “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments” (Mt 19,17). He asks: “Which ones?”, not at all to test him but because he imagines that there must be some further commandments for him that will win him life besides the commandments of the Law of Moses. It proved his eager desire. When Jesus had repeated the commandments of the Law, the young man said: “All these I have observed since my youth”. Nor did he stop there; he asked: “What do I still lack?” (Mt 19,20), this being proof itself of his eager desire. It is no small-minded person who believes himself to be still lacking something and who finds the ideal put forward for attaining the object of his desire to be deficient. And what will Christ say? He suggests something great. First of all he sets out the reward when he says: “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me”. Do you notice what a prize, what crowns he offers for this sporting pursuit?… To draw him he shows him a costly reward and leaves everything to his own judgement. Whatever might appear more difficult he leaves in shadow. Before speaking to him of conflicts and effort he shows him the reward: “ If you wish to be perfect” he says: this is the glory and happiness!… “You will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me”: this is the reward, the wonderful reward of following Christ and being his companion and friend! That young man valued earthly riches; Christ counsels him to rid himself of them, not to reduce him to abject poverty but to make him even richer.
maronite readings – rosary,team