THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
They are said to have arrived in the land of Canaan, where "Abraham passed through this land unto the place of Shechem, unto the oak of Moreh." The Scripture reveals the specific area in Canaan where the righteous one now resides. It further notes that "in this land then dwelt the Canaanites," a statement made by the blessed Moses not without intent, urging us to understand the wisdom of the patriarch's spirit. The fact that these lands were still in the hands of the Canaanites meant that he lived much like a wanderer, akin to a destitute outsider, possibly without a proper home.
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Despite these circumstances, he did not voice complaints or question, "Why must I, who once lived in honor in Harran, now exist as a nomad seeking meager shelter, never able to obtain even that, forced to dwell in tents and face numerous hardships?" He might have pondered, "Is this what it means when it is said, 'Go, and I will make of you a great nation'? What kind of beginning is this?" However, the righteous man refrained from such doubts. Instead, with complete faith in God's promises, he stood firm in spirit, soon receiving divine comfort.
For brevity's sake, let us pause here and encourage you to emulate the heart of this righteous man. It is indeed remarkable that the patriarch, called from his homeland to a distant land, displayed such obedience that neither his age, nor the various challenges of his time, hindered him from following God’s call. He broke free from all constraints and, like a spirited youth, left with his wife, nephew, and servants to carry out God's command. In contrast, we who are called from the earth to the heavens often fail to exhibit the same fervor for obedience. Instead, we offer trivial justifications, remaining unmoved by the magnitude of God's promises or by the worthlessness of material things. We tend to be so inattentive that we choose the temporary over the eternal, preferring earth over heaven, and we elevate the fleeting above the everlasting.
Consider how long we will continue to pursue wealth. What kind of mindset leads us to be consumed by such an insatiable desire, much like drunkenness where the more one drinks, the thirstier they become? Those who are gripped by a strong urge for money find no relief; rather, the more they acquire, the intense their longing grows. History shows us the fate of those who preceded us, who, despite possessing vast riches, departed this world stripped of everything, held accountable for their actions. The wealth amassed by wrongdoers may be divided amongst many, but the guilt they carry is theirs alone, leading to anguish without solace.
Why then do we neglect our salvation, treating our souls as if they belong to someone else? Do you not hear Christ state, "What ransom shall a man give for his soul"? Furthermore, He asks, "What good is it to a man if he gains the whole world, but harms his own soul?" (Matthew 16:26). What could possibly compare to the value of your soul? Present the vastness of the entire universe, and yet nothing holds that kind of worth. Indeed, what benefit is it, as Christ said, to acquire "the whole world" while jeopardizing one’s soul, which is closest to us? We neglect this precious soul, which deserves our utmost care, allowing it to suffer daily from greed, unrepentance, wrath, and various disturbances, often ignoring its cries until it’s too late. Who will ultimately grant us forgiveness or rescue us from the approaching judgment?
Therefore, while we still have the opportunity, let us cleanse its impurities through generous almsgiving and extinguish the fires of our sins. Scripture proclaims, "water quenches the flame of fire, and almsgiving cleanses sins" (Sir. 3:30). Truly, there is no means more effective to save us from the flames of Gehenna than through acts of mercy. If we give according to the command, not for show, but out of love for God, we can both cleanse our sinfulness and partake in God’s kindness through the grace of His only begotten Son, with whom to the Father, and the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, and honor, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.