This sermon reflects on the Gospel of the rich young ruler and one of the most important questions in the Christian life: what does it actually mean to follow Christ? The young man had kept the commandments, but when he was asked to surrender his possessions and follow the Lord, he went away sorrowful. His problem was not simply that he had wealth. His possessions revealed something deeper about what had taken hold of his heart.

The Orthodox Church teaches that the same question applies to every Christian, whether we are rich or poor. Money, careers, comfort, success, personal opinions, and even our own plans can become things we refuse to surrender to God. The spiritual life therefore requires more than being a good person or fulfilling a Sunday obligation. Prayer, fasting, worship, generosity, and service gradually teach us to move from “ ...