If these words are taken directly, so to speak with mathematical strictness, they turn out to be insurmountably difficult. Where is the selflessness here? What is disinterestedness here? To give in order to receive a hundred times more - that is simply an incredibly successful investment!

In fact, something completely different is meant here. When such doubts overcome us, one text comes to mind. The person who wrote it found faith while awaiting execution for murder. He had no education, and for that very reason the text itself is perceived simply as a miracle. This is what he writes: 'Yes, I accepted faith in mortal danger, when it was unknown whether I would be pardoned or not; but even in childhood, when dogs attacked in the yard or neighborhood boys threatened to beat me, I ran to my parents. So what is strange in the fact that now I run to my Heavenly Father?'

Here lies a very important distinction. Did he accept faith because in his situation it was the best way out and nothing else remained for him? Because it was useful for him to think that God and immortality exist? 'Benefit,' a clever and cold atheist will think. But if one looks closely, how much sincerity there is in these words, how much childlike trustfulness there is in them, then not with the mind - no, in no case - but only with the heart can one feel that the truest truth is hidden precisely here.

And then you understand: the essence here is not calculation and not the search for benefit. One simply needs, like a child, with eyes squeezed shut, to cling to God as to mommy who has come to pick you up from kindergarten - and then... only then is it given to you.

It can be said that the young man himself "asked for" the proposal to give up his possessions, since at first he was simply told to keep the commandments prescribed for everyone. But then he declared that he had kept all this, that is, the commandments, from his youth.

Of course, one can ask another question: is the young man claiming too much for himself, since it is very hard never to break a single commandment even once? But let us suppose that the young man managed to live blamelessly. Even so, in that case he still feels that something is lacking for him; his spiritual hunger is not satisfied. What should he do next? And only after this does Jesus propose that he make a difficult decision.

But the proposal corresponds to the request: the commandments given for everyone are not enough for you; you wanted to surpass the general level, so do what surpasses what is offered to the rest. And so the young man leaves, unable to do what he himself had asked about.

The words Jesus speaks to the disciples after the young man leaves are full of sorrow. If we listen closely, He is grieving that earthly wealth blocks people from heaven. We are used to applying these words to those who are especially rich, but if we think carefully, even people of modest means, or even the poor, may have some very small treasure that blocks heaven no less, or even more, than millions of dollars or vast estates. It is hard for even a very thin and unloaded camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

But Christ again and again invites us not to cling to earthly wealth. After all, He gives us not only everything necessary for earthly life, but much more as well, that which surpasses any earthly wealth.

"If you call upon knowledge and cry out for understanding, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." At first glance, reason and the fear of the Lord seem like completely unrelated things! But the author of Proverbs believes that it is impossible to find knowledge without the fear of the Lord. What is this mysterious fear?

Of course, it is not what we usually mean by the word "fear": not the fear that enslaves and paralyzes. The fear of the Lord is a special attitude toward God. The closest word in meaning is probably "reverence." Knowledge of God is impossible without rightly relating ourselves to him. If we sense who we are and who he is, we will sense this very fear: awe before immeasurable greatness. But if we try to relate to God "as equals," we will hardly see or know anything beyond the end of our nose.