“The Reward of the Righteous and the Promise to the Renouncer”
Readings: Sirach 31:8–11; Matthew 19:27–29
As we walk through the sacred days following the Octave of Easter, the Church in her liturgy continues to lead the faithful into deeper reflection on the Resurrection’s transforming power—not only in the life to come, but in the radical choices of the present. Today’s readings from Sirach 31:8–11 and Matthew 19:27–29 speak profoundly to the heart of Christian detachment and the divine recompense prepared for those who forsake worldly gain for the sake of the Kingdom.
Sirach 31:8–11 – The Blessed Rich Man
“Blessed is the rich man that is found without blemish, and hath not gone after gold. Who is he, and we will call him blessed? for wonderful things hath he done among his people.” (Sir 31:8–9)
In a world where wealth often becomes a source of corruption and spiritual distraction, the wise man of Sirach extols a rare figure: the righteous rich man, one who has possessed riches yet has not been possessed by them. His hands were not sullied with bribes nor his heart darkened by avarice. This man, found blameless, receives lasting honor, for as the sacred writer concludes, “his goods shall be established, and the congregation shall declare his alms.”
Saint John Chrysostom comments on the stewardship of the wealthy with moral clarity:
“It is not wealth that is a hindrance to virtue, but the will to use it rightly. For money is not evil, but the love of money.” (Hom. in Matt. 63.3)
The Church Fathers frequently warned that material riches are given not for luxury but for works of mercy. When wealth is used to serve the poor, the rich man becomes, in the words of Origen, “a servant of Christ through the poor.”
Matthew 19:27–29 – The Apostolic Reward
“Then Peter said to him in reply, ‘Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will there be for us?’” (Matt 19:27)
This poignant question from Saint Peter follows Our Lord’s encounter with the rich young man, whose sorrowful departure reveals the burden of possessions. Peter, perhaps reflecting on that moment, reminds the Lord of their total renunciation. In reply, Christ promises an astonishing reward: not only will the Apostles sit on thrones judging the tribes of Israel, but everyone who leaves behind family, lands, or livelihood for His sake will receive a hundredfold—and eternal life.
Saint Jerome, commenting on this passage, emphasizes the gratuitousness of divine generosity:
“God rewards not only the perfect works but even the desire for perfection. The leaving behind of all things is counted as a work of sanctity when done for God.” (Commentary on Matthew, 3.19.29)
Herein lies the great paradox of Christian life: that what we give up is small, but what God gives in return is infinite. Saint Augustine captures this in a tone of holy astonishment:
“The one who left the earth received heaven. He left temporal goods and received eternal. He left corruptible for incorruptible. He gave up a few and received countless.” (Sermon 329)
Easter Joy and Detachment
Feria Tertia of the Fourth Week after the Octave of Easter still echoes the joy of the Resurrection, and these readings invite us to let go of what is passing in order to cling to what is eternal. The Resurrection is not only an event to be believed but a pattern to be lived—rising above attachments, rising into charity, and setting our hope on the reward God has prepared for those who love Him.
This is not a disdain for the world but a proper ordering of loves. As Saint Gregory the Great teaches:
“We do not abandon what is earthly because it is evil, but because we aim at a higher good.” (Homilies on the Gospels, 18.3)
Let us, then, examine our own hearts. What have we left for Christ? And what still binds us? The blessed man of Sirach and the Apostles of Matthew remind us: detachment for God’s sake is never loss but transformation.
Prayer to Conclude:
O Lord Jesus Christ, who didst promise a hundredfold to those who follow Thee in poverty and trust, grant us the grace to loosen our hearts from the chains of earthly desire, that we may seek Thee with undivided love and attain to the glory of Thy Resurrection. Through the intercession of the holy Apostles and all the saints, make us generous and steadfast in our journey toward Thee. Amen.