Today we hear the Gospel reading for the Thirteenth Sunday of Luke, which tells of the Rich man who asked Jesus the poignant question, “What can I do to receive eternal life?”
This same story is read as the 12th Sunday of Matthew from the end of August or early September. Many times during the liturgical year, important teachings or acts of Jesus are read from different Gospels so that we can meditate more deeply on the importance of the message.
Jesus linked eternal life with faithful observance of the commandments of God. In order to enjoy eternal life, not only in the future kingdom of God, but also in our present experience of Christ here and now, it is necessary for us to know and to obey God’s Commandments.
A primary aspect of the life of Christ was His obedience to God. Christ is always ready to forgive us when we fail and seek His forgiveness. His call to obedience is uncompromising and His teachings are stricter even then the moral rules of the Old Testament. Jesus challenged the rich man to follow, just as Jesus Himself did, the highest example of self-giving by devoting himself completely to God’s work, leading a celibate life and practicing poverty for the sake of the Kingdom.
In conclusion, it is evident Christ’s higher righteousness is impossible for us to fulfill on the basis of our own efforts, but “What is impossible for man is possible to God”. We may not be called by Christ to a life of celibacy or poverty but all of us are called to a life of Christian perfection. This is the essence of this Gospel Reading from the Evangelist Luke.
