On Humility and the Commandments: An Introspection
The Gospel reading for this past Sunday was taken from Matthew 19, regarding the rich young ruler, who had "kept all of these [commandments] from [his] youth up", yet could not bring himself to sell all that he had and give it to the poor. While the Gospel was being read, the Holy Spirit impressed upon me how backward we have so many things. For example, one of the things I like to do is give to the poor, and I have even considered (prior to being married) doing exactly what the rich young ruler couldn't: selling it all, giving the proceeds to the poor, and entering a monastery. But what hubris! How can I even begin to approach the righteousness of this young ruler. This ascetic feat was the final step for him to be perfect. He kept the rest of the commandments from his childhood (no easy task, given the vicissitudes of adolescence, particularly). I fancy that I can or should give all to the poor, and yet I have not even kept the first of the commandments that