GOSPEL READING: Matthew 19:16-26
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, [b]“Why do you call Me good? [c]No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept [d]from my youth. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
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ЕВАНГЕЛСКО ЧЕТИВО: Матеј 19, 16-26
16. И ете, еден човек, кога пристапи до Него, Му рече: „Учителе добар, какво добро треба да направам за да имам живот вечен?” 17. А Он му одговори: „Зошто Ме наречуваш добар? Никој не е добар освен единиот Бог. А ако сакаш да влезеш во животот, пази ги заповедите.” 18. Тој Му рече: „Кои?” А Исус одговори: „Не убивај, не прељубодејствувај, не кради, не сведочи лажно; 19. почитувај ги татка си и мајка си; сакај ги ближните свои како себеси!” 20. Младиот човек Му рече: „Сето тоа сум го запазил од младини; што ми е уште потребно?” 21. Исус му кажа: „Ако сакаш да бидеш совршен, оди, продај го имотот свој и раздели го на сиромаси, и ќе имаш сокровиште на небото; па дојди и врви по Мене!” 22. Штом ги чу младиот човек тие зборови, си отиде нажален, оти имаше голем имот. 23. А Исус им рече на учениците Свои: „Вистина, ви велам, богат мачно ќе влезе во царството небесно; 24. и уште ви велам: полесно ѝ е на камилата да мине низ иглени уши, отколку на богатиот да влезе во царството Божјо.” 25. Кога го чуја тоа учениците, многу се зачудија и рекоа: „Тогаш кој може да се спаси?” 26. А Исус, кога погледна на нив, им рече: „За луѓето тоа не е можно, но за Бога сè е можно.”
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Thoughts by St. Theophan the Recluse on the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
A rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Here is meant a rich man who sees in his own self many methods and many powers unto his own prosperity. But as soon as one who has many possessions cuts off all attachment to them, extinguishes within himself all reliance on them, and ceases to see them as his substantial support, then in his heart he is the same as one who possesses nothing—for thus is the road to the kingdom open. Riches are then not only a hindrance, but a help, for they provide the means for charitable works. Riches are not the misfortune, but rather reliance upon them and attachment to them. This thought can be generalized in this way: whoever relies on something and is attached to something is rich in that thing. Whoever relies on God alone and cleaves to Him with all his heart is rich in God, Whoever relies on something else turns his heart to it instead of God—such a person is rich in this other thing, but not in God. From this it follows that he who is not rich in God has no entrance into the kingdom of God. Here are meant such things as birth, connections, mind, rank, circle of activities and so forth.
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