THE PARABLE OF THE SELFLESS MONK

THE PARABLE OF THE SELFLESS MONK

A story is told of a Monk who in his monastic life has taken the vow of poverty.  One day as he was walking prayerfully along the rugged path that leads to the forlorn botanical garden of the monastery, he found a glittering  gemstone, the kind and value of which, is inconsequential to his Spartan taste.  Having taken the vow of poverty, the idea of selling the gem or even exploiting its commercial value never entered  his mind, so he simply kept it like a souvenir.  It was not for long that he was unable to keep his newly found treasure from his fellow Monks, and as they gazed at the gemstone’s beauty and brilliance they all praised God  for this marvel of creation. His fellow Monks, however,  used to the simplicity of monastic life, felt that the jewel  is much too precious to be sold for money so they suggested that he should keep it so other travelers and pilgrims could see its  beauty.

One day a visitor came. The monk showed the gemstone to him. The visitor dared to ask if the Monk was willing to give it to him. The kind Monk asked the visitor if he really needed it. Knowing that the Monk had taken the vow of helping those in need, he replied that he direly needed the gem for whatever it was worth. The Monk readily gave the jewel to him. So the visitor went merrily on his way, cheered by this stroke of luck.

A few days later the visitor returned to the monastery looking for the kind and bighearted   Monk.  The Monk asked why he came back. The visitor explained that he had come to return the gem. Puzzled the monk asked the visitor why his change of heart. The visitor said,” I don’t really need this precious jewel. I realized I need something far more precious than this jewel.  I want to have that very thing which enabled your heart to give away, without the slightest selfishness, something as precious as a jewel .”

Reflecting on this parable one can only imagine  what could have happened had the Monk who found the gemstone became selfish, or if the other Monks became greedy and covetous, or if all of them, including the visitor, were over powered by the fatal attraction of worldly things.

In the Book of Luke Jesus said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."(Luke 12:15).

The background of this verse brings us to the two brothers who were fighting each other over a piece of property as their inheritance. One brother took advantage of the other brother effectively stripping the latter of his rightful share in the inheritance.  

Here our Lord gives a strong warning against greed and turning one’s heart to love worldly possessions over and above anyone. There is more to life than taking, having, getting, receiving, and keeping. There is boundless riches and joy in the sacrifice of giving and emptying one’s self that others may receive God’s  blessings imparted by a loving, caring heart which utterly  forgets self, and surrenders the human will to the indwelling Spirit of Christ .