“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Christian Perfection and Humility - Homily on the 27th Sunday after Pentecost

IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.

Introduction

Around the year 271, there was a young man who lived in Lower Egypt, born to wealthy landowner parents, both of whom had only recently died, leaving the young man to care for his little sister and the upkeep of the family home. This young man went to church one day, and while there, he heard the Gospel which we have just heard. Writing about this experience, his friend says that the young man realized this passage had been read for his sake and he immediately left the church, gave away all the land that he had inherited, and then sold his possessions, distributing the money to the poor, and saving some for his sister. This young man we know as St. Antony the Great, and his friend and biographer is St. Athanasius of Alexandria. Originally, St. Antony’s Life was written in Greek, but within twenty years it was translated twice into Latin, then into Coptic and Syriac, and became the impetus for many who desired that perfection which comes to those who leave their homes to make the desert a city.

Narration

At the beginning of this Gospel passage, we find a young man approaching Christ to ask Him the question we all have had in one form or another, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Christ answers and cites the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments of the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments). The young man responds saying that he has kept all of these even from his youth up to the present day and with further persistence he asks, “What lack I yet?” to which Jesus responds, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Luke 18.22). The Evangelist Matthew, in a complimentary fashion, writes, “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” (Matthew 19.21). Both are referring to the same thing: growth and maturity in the spiritual life.

The spiritual life is often described as an ascent, a ladder, or a series of steps that lead one nearer to Christ. St. John Climacus frequently speaks of the beginning, the middle, and the end in relation to one’s spiritual life taking note of the various passions and virtues that attack at the different stages (26.75).[1] In today’s Gospel, the young man approaches Christ, suggesting that he is closer to the end, closer to full maturity and perfection, having fulfilled the Decalogue, and that continuously from an early age. Therefore, Christ responds in kind to the question of Christian maturity: “If thou wilt be perfect…”

I. Christ’s Compassion

The Evangelist Mark notes that the young man came running after Christ and then knelt before him (10.17). St. John Chrysostom does not question this man’s sincerity and does not see him as trying to trick Christ by his question, or else he would not have left sorrowing, as Matthew and Luke note. What is more, Christ responds to this young man in a way that indicates how much Christ loves him. He does not begin and end with only the difficult task of “go and sell [what] thou hast, and give to the poor” but He includes the “prize” as St. John observes, the prize of first, being perfect and second, which speaks exactly to this young man’s passion, “Thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” Continuing, St. John says,

For since his discourse was of money, even of all did [Christ] advise him to strip himself, showing that he loses not what he hath, but adds to his possessions, [Christ] gave him more than He required him to give up; and not only more, but also as much greater as Heaven is greater than earth, and yet more so… But He called it a treasure, showing the plenteousness of the recompense, its permanency, its security, so far as it was possible by human similitudes to intimate it to the hearer.[2]

Jesus’ final response, as we read in the Gospel of Matthew and of Luke, only discloses the answer that Christ offers to this young man’s enquiry; however, Mark the Evangelist writes that, “Jesus beholding him loved him…” (Mark 10.21).

Throughout the Gospels, Christ not only reveals Himself to be the Messiah through what He does and says, He also demonstrates that He loves his creation, He loves humanity, even when they cannot accept His teaching,

1. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!” (Luke 13.34) and
2. at seeing his friends Mary and Martha weeping over the death of their brother and His friend, Lazarus, the Beloved Apostle notes, “When Jesus therefore saw [Martha and Mary] weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with [them], [Jesus] groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.” (John 11.33), and
3. like this young man who will retreat back into the darkness of his passions, Mark writes, “Jesus beholding him loved him” (Mark 10.21).

II. Perfection defined

Throughout the New Testament, perfection is spoken of as the end goal of the Christian life, towards which one should continually strive.

“If thou wilt be perfect” ei qeleis teleios einai, if you are willing to be teleios - perfect, mature, complete, brought to the end, full grown - this is the meaning the authors of the New Testament give to this word.

• Be ye therefore perfect (teleios), says Christ - Matt. 5.48
• Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men (teleios), writes the Apostle Paul - 1 Cor. 14.20
• Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (teleios) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, the Apostle writes again - Eph. 4.13

In The Stromata, written at the end of the second century, St. Clement of Alexandria, writes about those who seek to be perfect, saying, “to be simply saved is the result of medium actions, but to be saved rightly and becomingly is right action, so also all the action of the [Perfect] may be called right action; that of the simple believer, intermediate action, not yet made right according to knowledge…”(VI.14)

III. Perfection and Elder Zosima

Another example of one who believed himself to have come close to perfection is Elder Zosima, whom we read about in the life of St. Mary of Egypt. His life is similar to this young man’s in that both are looking for perfection. Elder Zosima struggled with the thought that he was perfect in everything and that there was no man who surpassed him.

These two men desired eternal life but, as we shall see, they come with two different dispositions which leads to two different outcomes.

We may recall that the Elder was handed over to a monastery as soon as he was taken from his mother’s breast and remained there until the age of fifty-three. We are then told:

…he began to be tormented with the thought that he was perfect in everything and needed no instruction from anyone, saying to himself mentally, “Is there a monk on earth who can be of use to me and show me a kind of asceticism that I have not accomplished? Is there a man to be found in the desert who has surpassed me?”[3]

When he meets St. Mary of Egypt, Elder Zosima realizes he has not attained perfection and is ashamed and fearful before her holiness. However, he does not turn away sorrowful, but instead he humbles himself and perseveres.

IV. Perfection is a choice

St. John Chrysostom notes that when Jesus addresses the young man concerning perfection, He does it as one who advises and exhorts. At first, He gives the Law, quoting from the Decalogue, because all that is in it must be fulfilled by everyone without fail. However, St. John says, regarding perfection, Christ only advises and admonishes, because He leaves it to His listener to choose to obey or not, and it is the listener who has the power to accept or reject, since it depends on his will.[4]

Conclusion

The twenty-six rungs of the ladder of divine ascent are not traversed in one step, nor is Christian maturity attained in one moment, but there is a shorter path to perfection, and there is a longer path to perfection, and each of us needs to discern which path to navigate and then not deviate. The young man in the Gospel was told of the path of perfection, but turned back in shame. Elder Zosima was shown to fall short of perfection but repented, humbled himself, and strove harder. St. Antony, after hearing this Gospel passage, went in one direction, never turning back, and left us with a life demonstrating that perfection is possible.

Fathers and Brothers, Mother and sisters, friends, no one else can make you perfect; no one can make you repent; no one can make you confess. The Creator of Heaven and Earth has become Man. This Man Jesus Christ offers His body and blood for our perfection, of which we are about to partake. What good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? May we seek our perfection.

THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF OUR HOLY FATHERS, LORD JESUS CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US. AMEN.