The Two Stages of the Spiritual Life Reflected

in the Answer Given by the Savior Christ to the Rich Young Man

On the 12th Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. George the Great Martyr and Sts. Epictetus and Astion in Saint-Hubert, Québec, Canada.

At the end of the service, in his sermon, the hierarch emphasized the relevance of the biblical passages appointed for this Sunday and highlighted the steps that the faithful are called to follow in their spiritual growth.

Christ is present—alive and concrete—in the Church: "The Gospel of this day reminds us of our vocation and the need for our growth in the spiritual life, as well as the steps we are invited to take at the prompting of the words of the Holy Scriptures. Everything that happens in the Church is centered on the words of the Holy Scriptures, which bear witness to the life and work of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Church is the Body of Christ and cannot exist without His presence."

This presence, the bishop added, is made tangible and visible in the lives of the faithful through Holy Communion: "It is the Body and Blood of the Lord, that is, the bread and wine offered by the faithful, transformed through the work of the Holy Spirit, because of the prayer of the entire Church. This is the concrete way through which God strengthens our faith and makes us partakers of eternal life."

Reflecting on the Epistle of the day (1 Corinthians 15) and the concrete testimony of the Resurrection of the Lord, the bishop recalled the words of St. Paul, who "lists the witnesses who saw the Risen Christ: Cephas - Peter, the twelve, then over five hundred brothers, the myrrh-bearing women, James, all the apostles, and finally Paul himself. This proves that the testimonies of the Holy Apostles are real, historical events to which they were direct witnesses and which they share with us. They are not speaking like the imagination of a writer, but of historical events experienced by those who heard, touched, and saw Christ alive after His death on the Cross."

The Romanian hierarch also mentioned the testimony of St. Evangelist John: "What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched concerning the Word of life... we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us."

Even so, the disciples went through trials of doubt: Peter denied Him, Luke and Cleopas did not recognize Him on the road to Emmaus, Thomas asked for tangible proof by touch.

"Thomas’s experience is emblematic. His need for concrete proof shows the limits of man, but also Christ’s patience, who says to him: 'Put your finger here and see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believe.'"

Referring to the Gospel passage, the bishop explained the meaning of the rich young man's question:

"Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Christ’s answer reveals two stages of the spiritual life. First: "If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." Then Christ adds: "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. The Gospel tells us that the young man, being very wealthy, went away sorrowful. The Church Fathers have seen in this moment the two stages of the spiritual life: the active life, of keeping the commandments, and the contemplative life, of union with God."

The struggle for the spiritual life is constant, the bishop of Canada said. Its interruption leads to losses that are not always easy to recover: "The spiritual life is like physical exercise: when you lose the habit, starting again is difficult. Daily prayer, attending services, the fasting periods established by the Church - these do not seem enormous efforts. But if you’ve abandoned them for a longer period, resuming them becomes very hard. Still, with God's help, through perseverance, strength, and courage, change becomes possible. The lives of the saints prove this. The strongest example remains that of St. Paul the Apostle, a man of the Law of the Old Testament, passionate and zealous, whom Christ enlightened on the road to Damascus, saying: 'It is hard for you, Paul, to kick against the goads.'"

In conclusion, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian noted that the Gospel reading is an opportunity for introspection: "This Gospel is providentially placed at the end of the liturgical year, inviting us to reflect on our life over the past year, to take stock, both personally and communally: what we have done, what can be corrected, what decisions must be made so that the new liturgical year may bring richer spiritual fruits. History shows that the Gospel has transformed societies: it tempered the violent Roman world, brought new values to Byzantium and the Middle Ages. Even today, in the face of conflicts and wars we see in different corners of the world, the Church has the mission to remind everyone that without love, kindness, tolerance, and patience, there is no real solution for us as people."

On this Sunday, the hierarch also presented issue no. 17 of the diocesan magazine Cuvântul (The Word), a quarterly publication with two special editions for Easter and Christmas.

Among the concelebrating clergy were Protos. Maxim Morariu, Fr. Adrian Manea, and Deacon Valentin Boțu. Liturgical responses were offered by  Mădălina Enache and Ciprian Neagu.

At the end, the faithful present received the final blessing.

(notes by Nun Ana Bulgariu)