Lk. 12:29. And so, do not seek what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, and do not be anxious,
Lk. 12:30. For all these things do the people of this world seek after;
Then He says: "seek not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind." By doubtful mind (in Church Slavonic, "lifting up") He means, without a doubt, nothing other than distraction and the unstable direction of the mind, which thinks now of one thing, now of another, leaping from one thing to the next and always dreaming of something loftier. Is this not chasing after meteors? Such anxiety, as drawing us away from God, or rather such frivolity, the Lord forbids, saying that "all these things do the people of this world seek after." For anxiety does not stop at what is necessary, but, as I said, always seeks something higher, which is why it is called a lifting upward. For example, we have no bread. We first concern ourselves with where to obtain it, but we do not stop there; rather, we desire to obtain bread made from the finest wheat; then we desire wine as well, and indeed one that is fragrant and aromatic; then we desire roasted meat too, and indeed of grouse or pheasants. Do you see what anxiety and frivolity are like? Therefore the Lord decisively cuts it short, for these are the things the pagans seek.
Lk. 12:30. Your Father knows that you have need of these things;
Then He presents another reason as well, namely: that our Father knows what we have need of, and He presents not one, but many reasons. He says: He is "Father," and if He is Father, how will He not give? Moreover, He "knows," for He is not unaware. And you "have need," for this is not superfluous, but necessary. Therefore, if He is Father, and you have need, and He knows, then how will He not give?
Lk. 12:31. But rather seek the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.
Therefore, above all, "seek the Kingdom of God," and reject the concern for worldly things, as it distances you from Him, and then all these things shall be added unto you. Do you see what God is like? If you seek what is small, you do what is displeasing to Him, for you insult His great generosity; if you seek what is great, you will receive it, and what is small will be added unto you. For if He sees that you are occupied with seeking His Kingdom, then He will most assuredly provide for you in your needs. Do not even we act the same way in our own affairs? We too care more for those who have entirely entrusted themselves to our care, and we are so attentive to them as though they themselves do not even look after themselves. How much more so will the Lord do likewise? Thus, the Lord cuts off concern for worldly things in order to persuade us to seek His Kingdom, for amid worldly cares this is impossible.
Lk. 12:32. Fear not, little flock!
The Lord calls those who desire to be His disciples a "little flock," either because in this world there are very few saints on account of the required voluntary poverty and non-possessiveness, or because they are fewer than the Angels, whose hosts are without number and incomparably exceed our number. And that the Angels are far more numerous is evident from the parable in which the Lord said that the shepherd rejoices over one lost and found again more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray (Luke 15:7). For from this it is evident that as one relates to ninety-nine, so does the human race relate to the angelic world.
Lk. 12:32. For your Father has been well pleased to give you the Kingdom.
"Fear not, little flock," He says, that is, do not doubt that God will provide for you, even if you yourself do not care for yourself. Why? Because "the Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom." If He gives the Kingdom, then all the more will He grant earthly things.
Lk. 12:33. Sell your possessions and give alms.
So then, do not think that if you do not embrace poverty, there will be no Provider for you, but sell your possessions, give alms, and make your treasure inexhaustible.
Lk. 12:33. Prepare for yourselves purses that do not grow old, an unfailing treasure in the heavens, where no thief comes near and no moth consumes,
Then He persuades us with irrefutable reasoning as well. Here, He says, the moth consumes, but in heaven it does not. Therefore, is it not madness to store up treasure in a place where it is damaged? Then, since the moth does not consume gold, He added: "where no thief approaches." For if the moth does not consume gold, the thief steals it.
Lk. 12:34. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Then, since not everyone is robbed, He adds an even greater and completely irrefutable reason. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Let it be so, He says, that neither moth devours nor thief approaches, but what punishment does the very enslavement of the heart to treasure buried in the earth and the casting down to earth of the godlike substance of the soul deserve? Is not the punishment all the greater for the one who possesses a mind? Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. If your treasure is in the earth, then your heart is in it too; if your treasure is in heaven, then your heart is on high. Who would not choose rather to be on high than under the earth, to be an Angel rather than a mole living in underground burrows?
Lk. 12:35. Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.
The Lord, having made His disciple free from excess, having released him from every worldly care and pride, and having thus made him light, now makes him also a servant. For whoever desires to serve must be light and nimble. Therefore He says: "Let your loins be girded," that is, always show yourselves ready for the works of your master, and "your lamps burning," that is, do not live in darkness and without discernment, but let the light of reason show you all that ought and ought not to be done. Thus, this world is night. Those girded at the loins are those leading the active life. For such is the garb of workers. They also need burning lamps. For in the active life the gift of discernment is also needed, that is, so that the worker may distinguish not only what ought to be done, but also how it ought to be done. For many did what was good, but did not do it well. Such people, although they were girded at the loins, since they were active, did not have burning lamps, that is, they did not have rational discernment, but fell either into pride or into another abyss of folly. Note also that first our loins are girded, then the lamps are lit. For first comes activity, then contemplation, which is the illumination of our mind. For the lamp, our mind, is then called burning when the light of God shines in it. Therefore, let us diligently exercise ourselves in virtue, so that we may have both our lamps burning, that is, the inner word and the spoken word — the inner one illuminating everything in the soul, and the spoken one shining on the tongue. For the inner lamp enlightens us, while the teaching and spoken word gives light to others.
Lk. 12:36. And you be like men waiting for the return of their master from the wedding, so that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately.
And we must be "like men waiting for the return of their... master... from the wedding." Who else is this Master but Christ Jesus? He, having assumed human nature as a bride and united it with Himself, made a wedding, cleaving to it in one flesh. And He does not make just one wedding, but many, for in heaven He daily betroths to Himself the souls of the saints, whom Paul or one like Paul presents to Him as pure virgins (2 Cor. 11:2). He returns from the heavenly wedding, perhaps openly before all, at the end of the world, when He comes from heaven in the glory of the Father, or perhaps invisibly and unexpectedly appearing at every season, at the end of each person's life in particular. Therefore, blessed is the one whom He finds girded about the loins, that is, ready to serve God through the active part of Christian wisdom, and having a burning lamp of word and discernment, not only doing good, but doing it well, and beyond that having received contemplation as a kind of lamp. For through the girding of the loins, the lamp of contemplation also becomes burning within us, and even two lamps, one inward and one brought outward.
Lk. 12:37. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching; truly I say to you, he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
For such a servant, the Lord Himself becomes a servant. For it is said: "and will seat them, and coming near, will serve them." God girds Himself because He does not pour out upon us the full abundance of His blessings, but restrains it. For who can contain God as He is? This is seen also in the Seraphim, who cover themselves from the surpassing nature of the Divine light (Isa. 6:2). The good servants He reclines upon a couch, that is, He gives them rest in all things. For just as one lying on a couch rests the entire body, so also in the age to come all the saints will be given rest in every respect. Here they find no rest for the body, but there, together with their souls, their bodies too, having become spiritual and divine and having inherited incorruption, will enjoy perfect repose, and God will be all in all of them (1 Cor. 15:28). The Lord "will serve" the worthy servants, rendering to them in equal measure. As they served Him, so He too will serve them, setting before them an abundant feast and bestowing the enjoyment of spiritual gifts.
Lk. 12:38. And if he shall come in the second watch, and in the third watch he shall come, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
By "the second and third watch" you may understand different times of our life. I will explain with an example. Just as he who does not sleep "in the second and... third watch" is considered the most vigilant, for these hours of the night especially bring sleep upon people, and the deepest sleep at that: so understand, if you will, that in the various conditions of our life there are times which, if we are found watchful during them, make us blessed. Has someone seized your property? Have your children died? Has someone slandered you? If in such circumstances you were found watchful before God and Master and did not allow yourself to do anything contrary to His commandments, then He has truly found you watchful "in the second and... third watch," that is, in a difficult time, in which careless souls fall and fall asleep with the sleep of death.