Our Venerable Father Patapius
Nativity Fast
1 Timothy 6:17-21; Luke 18:31-34
Read 1 Timothy 6:17-21
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
It is curious how St. Paul uses the word “rich” in today’s epistle reading. The first two instances are nouns—the “rich in the world” and “uncertain riches.” The rich in this world are those who are wealthy in this age. This wealth can provide a solid foundation for financial security in the future of this age. But Paul calls this into question by naming it “uncertain riches.” His desire is for all Christians to look beyond this world, and to be prepared for the future that will be inaugurated by Christ’s appearance, His second coming. It does not matter how many riches we acquire in this age, we can’t take it with us. Recall yesterday’s Gospel reading from Luke (12:16-21)—God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’
The third use of the word “rich” is as an adverb, qualifying how the Lord bestows upon us all that is needed, “everything to enjoy.” And then Paul encourages us to be and to act in the same manner as the Lord, “to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous.”
What can we learn from this? We are to be free from the attachments of this age. One who amasses material wealth now has an uncertain future, and the sharing of one’s material wealth with others who are in need is amassing spiritual wealth. It reflects what was done in the early Christian communities (see Acts 4:32). The Christian understanding of the final end (telos) of material wealth is not financial security for the remaining years we have left but that by sharing, giving it away for a great good, we “may take hold of the life which is life indeed.”