…and I chose to have her rather than the light,
because the splendor of her never yields to sleep.

What’s important to you?

The Christian life is a demanding life. We might call a lot of things demanding: our jobs, our families, our hobbies, raking the leaves. None of it compares to the demands of Christ.

Let’s review a few of them starting with one from today’s Gospel:

Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor
and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

Tough choice, in the material world.

Consider these:

He walked along from there and saw two other brothers, James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-22)

Tough choice, throwing away your livelihood and your family, in your father’s face, so you can go preach the Gospel.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. (Matthew 13:44-46)

Tough choice, giving up everything for God’s kingdom.

Then he told them a parable. “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’

Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” (Luke 12:15-21)

Tough to work hard, doing what you think God wants, praising Him for His blessings, only to find it was all for nothing because you missed the point.

A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

Tough to die.

Giving up all that you have, even to your life, is a requirement. It is a choice you are being asked to make. I’m asking you here and now, will you choose God over all? I’m asking you because the Holy Spirit is here, right now, and He’s asking.

These parables and narrated stories all seem pious and idealistic, but only if your faith is weak and your attachment to the world is great.

If your faith is strong they are the things that define you each day. More than principals, they are life itself. They are your goal and sole desire, as the reading from Wisdom told us.

The Letter to the Hebrews recaps God’s ability to see our priorities pretty clearly:

No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.

Scary thought, except for those who believe they will live forever.

Remember, you’re being asked. Whether you sit here in this church or not, you cannot run from the question or from God. He’s always asking, —What’s your choice.—

While considering your choice take a listen to a lesson from St. John Chrysostom:

There are many disciples of Christ who can justly claim that they are indifferent to material possessions. They happily live in simple huts, wear rough woolen clothes, eat frugally, and give away the bulk of their fortunes. These same people can claim that they are indifferent to worldly power. They happily work in the most humble capacities, performing menial tasks, with no desire for high rank. But there still may be one earthly attribute to which they cling: reputation. They may wish to be regarded by others as virtuous. They may want to be admired for their charity, their honor, their integrity, their self-denial. They may not actually draw people’s attention to these qualities, but they are pleased to know that others respect them. Thus when someone falsely accuses them of some wrongdoing, they react with furious indignation. They protect their reputation with the same ferocity as the rich protect their gold. Giving up material possessions and worldly power is easy compared to giving up reputation. To be falsely accused and yet to remain spiritually serene is the ultimate test of faith.