Fr. Micah begins today’s sermon by explaining the ancient Greek concept of kleos — fame, glory, or reputation — found in texts such as the Iliad and the Odyssey. Kleos was understood to be what humans truly desired, needed, and pursued. In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we find a man who is wealthy and continues to build his wealth, pursuing glory and wealth.

In these accounts, we see what also drives so many of us today: fame, popularity, reputation, and possessions. Yet, Fr. Micah emphasizes, none of this can be taken with us. He quotes the hymn of St. John of Damascus, which begins, “Vanity are all the works and quests of man, and they have no being after death has come.”

Fr. Micah encourages us, in contrast to the pursuit of wealth and glory, to empty ourselves that our hearts may be filled with gladness. He explains that this self-emptying is love — an active, tangible love that requires us to give. Fr. Micah concludes with the story of Abba Sisoes the Great, who exemplifies this self-emptying love.