Saturday before Cheesefare Sunday. Holy Martyr Charalampius (193-211).
Romans 14:19-26. Galatians 5:22-6:2. Matthew 6:1-13. Matthew 11:27-30.
Read Matthew 6:1-13
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
When Peter posed Jesus a question about the reward that all disciples were hoping for, Jesus promised that “there will be no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for His sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age, and in the age to come eternal life”. (Mr. 10, 28-30). Today we celebrate the Cheesefare Saturday and the memory of all Venerable fathers and mothers (that is monks and nuns) whose reward is great in heaven. Therefore, almost entire Chapter 6 of the Gospel of St. Matthew is dedicated to the question of reward that Jesus promises to those who properly give alms, pray and fast.
On the one hand, many modern theologians are inclined to think that it is better to avoid any discourse on the questions of the reward and punishment, since we are encouraged to do good for the sake of the goodness itself and since virtue is a reward in itself while our passions punish us by themselves. It is hard to argue with those statements unless we, on the other hand, follow the logic of Christ who did not hesitate to speak of eternal punishment and rewards on various occasions, as for instance in his parables on the Last judgement or talents. Why when this topic of the reward is so crucial for Jesus?
He, first of all, goes beyond or even rejects the Old Testament idea that both reward and punishment are of material character and that they are always visible, for they come about already at this life solely depending on the sinful or righteous behavior of the person. Instead of promising prosperity, security or carelessness for his disciples, He openly warns them that if they choose to follow His footsteps, they will also be poor, hungry, thirsty, rejected, and persecuted. Yet, already in their life, Jesus promisses that they will receive satisfaction that cannot be measured by the material means and that they will be blessed and rewarded on the spiritual level in accordance with the paradoxical logic of the beatitudes. He also promises the heavenly rewards to his followers which will come as a result of their unseen warfare against their passions and above all against their own selfishness.
The reward is designated as the “eternal life” which is not limited exclusively to the life to come, but is perceptible even now.
Someone said: “Unless a thing is good for something, it is good for nothing.” Therefore, it is important for us as Christians, first and foremost, to chose good for the sake of the goodness and God’s unconditional love. But it is also so satisfying and valuable to hear from the mouth of our divine Saviour that our Christian life has a goal and purpose as well as to hear the promise of Jesus that our efforts will not remain overlooked.