In the spirit of Feria Quinta infra Hebdomadam XX post Octavam Pentecostes, today’s readings offer us a profound meditation on God’s grace bestowed upon those He chooses, and the promise of reward for those who leave all to follow Christ. Drawing from Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 45:1-6 and Matthew 19:27-29, we are invited to contemplate the themes of divine election, fidelity to God, and the heavenly inheritance promised to the faithful.
Ecclesiasticus 45:1-6: Moses, the Elect of God
“Beloved of God and men, whose memory is in benediction. He made him like the saints in glory, and magnified him in the fear of his enemies. And with his words he made prodigies to cease, and he glorified him in the sight of kings, and gave him commandments in the sight of his people, and showed him his glory.” (Ecclus. 45:1-6)
In these verses, the sacred author extols Moses, presenting him as the chosen servant of God. He is described as “beloved of God and men,” reflecting his unique role as mediator of the Old Covenant, through whom God delivered His law to Israel. Moses’ exaltation in Ecclesiasticus mirrors the grace that God bestows on all those He calls to fulfill a special purpose in salvation history.
The Church Fathers, particularly St. Gregory of Nyssa, comment on the figure of Moses as a type of Christ. Just as Moses delivered Israel from bondage, Christ delivers humanity from the slavery of sin. St. Gregory writes: “Moses was great before God, but he who freed us from greater evils is greater still” (Life of Moses). Moses’ intimacy with God, revealed in how God “showed him His glory,” prefigures the ultimate revelation of God’s glory in Christ, who, unlike Moses, is God Himself, leading us not merely out of Egypt, but into the eternal Promised Land.
The election of Moses reminds us of the mysterious ways God chooses His servants, not according to worldly standards, but by His divine will. As St. John Chrysostom observes, “God does not choose those who are great, but makes those He chooses great by His own grace” (Homilies on Genesis). Moses, despite his hesitancy and human frailty, became the great prophet and leader through God’s power. In this, we see a reflection of our own vocations: though weak and imperfect, we are called to holiness and service through God’s grace, not by our own merits.
Matthew 19:27-29: The Reward for Following Christ
“Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.” (Matt 19:27-29)
In this passage from the Gospel of Matthew, Peter’s question—”what therefore shall we have?”—expresses the human concern for reward after sacrifice. Christ responds by assuring His disciples of the unimaginable blessings awaiting those who have left everything for Him. These blessings are twofold: an earthly return, a “hundredfold” in this life, and, more importantly, the eternal reward of life everlasting.
The promise of sharing in Christ’s glory is not limited to the Apostles alone. St. Augustine reminds us that every Christian who renounces worldly attachments for the sake of Christ will receive this reward: “We give up earthly things to receive heavenly things; we give up temporal things to receive eternal things; we give up what is perishable to receive what is imperishable” (Sermon 13 on the New Testament). The call to leave all for Christ is a radical call to prioritize the Kingdom of Heaven over all else, trusting in God’s provision and the promise of eternal life.
In this Gospel, we see Christ speaking not merely of material renunciation, but of the detachment of the heart from worldly goods. As St. Jerome explains, “He who forsakes in heart, though he retains outwardly, is as much as he who leaves them bodily” (Commentary on Matthew). The heart must be centered on Christ, free from the distractions of temporal wealth or earthly attachments.
Conclusion: Following the Example of Moses and the Apostles
Reflecting on these readings in the context of Feria Quinta infra Hebdomadam XX post Octavam Pentecostes, we are reminded of the call to both active service and spiritual renunciation. Moses, chosen by God, is a model of humility and faithful obedience to divine will, while the Apostles represent the complete detachment required of those who follow Christ. The reward for such faithfulness is not merely temporal, but eternal, as Christ promises that those who leave everything for His sake will receive life everlasting.
St. Gregory the Great summarizes this beautifully: “Let us then despise earthly things, that we may merit to enjoy heavenly things. Let us not fear to lose what we must soon leave, that we may win the gain of eternity” (Homilies on the Gospels).
As we continue through this week after the Octave of Pentecost, let us ask for the grace to imitate Moses’ humility and the Apostles’ radical trust in Christ, that we too may share in the glory of His Kingdom, both now and forever. Amen.