"And Jesus went out, and saw a multitude of people, and had compassion on them, and healed their sick" (Matt. 14:14). There is a spiritual meaning in this Gospel story. The people following Jesus from the cities means that the people have abandoned their former way of life and different opinions. And the departure of Jesus Christ from a solitary place to the people means that they did not have the strength to reach Him on their own, and therefore the Savior went out to meet them, just as the father went out to meet the prodigal son. When He saw a multitude of people, He took pity on them and healed the sick so that full faith would be rewarded. Blessed Jerome (115, 783).

He left His life as a prototype of virtue for all who wish to live piously, so that others, seeing these traits, would imprint a similar image in their lives. He Himself teaches us:

"Whosoever serves Me, let him follow Me" (John 12:26), meaning not the bodily following of Him, but the complete imitation of His life. St. Basil the Great (113, 278).

Let us follow Him by Whom we are saved, and belong to His inheritance, not caring about what is of little value and belongs only to earthly things. St. Gregory the Theologian (16:125).

A Christian is one who does not ignore the path of Christ, but wishes to walk along this path through the sufferings of Christ. Do not desire to follow any other path than that which Christ Himself walked. Obviously, this path is sorrowful, but it is already the safest. On the other path, perhaps, there are consolations, but there are many robbers on it. Blessed Augustine (113, 279).

Let us carefully watch where the Lord is marching, and following Him, keep to His path. For Jesus will be followed by him who imitates him. That is why He says: "Follow Me, and let the dead bury Thy dead" (Matt. 8:22). To follow is to imitate. That is why He repeats, "Who serves Me. Let it follow me" (John 12:26).

So, let us consider where He is going to serve Him in our service. Here He is, the Lord and Creator of the Angels, desiring to take on our nature, which He created, descends into the womb of the Virgin. He did not want to be born into the world from the rich, he chooses the parents of the poor. They did not even have a lamb, which had to be sacrificed (according to the law) for Him, and the Mother sacrifices "two turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:24). Nor did He wish to be happy in this world, but endured dishonor and ridicule; He endured spitting, beatings, beatings, a crown of thorns and a cross. We have lost our inner joy because of bodily pleasures, and He shows with what bitterness it returns. So, what must man endure for himself, if God has suffered so much for people?

Therefore, whoever already believes in Christ, but still clings to covetousness, is proud of honors, is inflamed with hatred, is defiled by the impurity of lust, desires happiness in the world, does not strive to follow Christ, in whom he believes. For if the one to whom the Master shows the path of sorrow desires joy and pleasure, he follows a different path. St. Gregory the Dialogist (116, 310-313).

Just as those who wanted to leave Egypt had to follow Moses, so the Israelites who wanted to enter the promised land had to follow Joshua; so those who wish to be freed from the service of the devil and his misfortunes and enter the Heavenly Fatherland must follow Jesus Christ. "Whosoever serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there will My servant also be" (John 12:26) says the Lord. Let us follow Christ with our hearts (104, 1756-1757).

Everyone wants to be glorified and exalted with Christ. But few people want to bear the cross with Christ, mockery, humiliation, ridicule and endure sorrow. But He says: "And whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me" (Matt. 10:38). For whoever wants to be with Christ in His kingdom and glory must also be with Him in this world, follow Him with humility and patience, and thus bear his cross (104, 1757).

What does it mean to follow Christ, as the Lord says: "Take up your cross, and follow me?" What does it mean to follow Christ? To be in true repentance, to produce the fruits of repentance, and to endure every suffering, whatever may happen, for the sake of God's love, looking to Christ Himself, Who suffered so much. Christ did only good, and did not sin, and taught good, but endured all suffering for our sake, doing the will of His Heavenly Father and doing His work (John 4:34). "Being obedient even unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8). Thus He taught us by His example how it is proper to please God: that is, to do good and endure evil, in order to do the will of God. For to please God is to do His will. Without this, it is impossible to please God. For it is God's will that we do good and generously endure all that is difficult, overcoming it with uncomplaining patience (104:1758).

His soldiers, true Christians, must also be like their King Christ. They humble themselves below all, but God exalts them above all (1 John 4:4); they wander on earth, but heaven is their fatherland; they dwell on earth, but have "their dwelling in heaven," from whence they also expect the Saviour (Phil. 3:20). They walk in rags, but inside they are covered with royal scarlet. They are deprived of human inheritance, but they have God's; "heirs of God, but joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17). Riches are not sought on earth, nor are they possessed: but the treasures of heaven are opened to them (2 Corinthians 4:7). People persecute them, but God accepts them (2 Corinthians 6:17). People leave them, but have communion with God (1 John 1:3).

The world condemns them, but God justifies them (Romans 8:30-33). The world curses them, but God blesses them (Eph. 1:3; 1 Pet. 3:9; Gal. 3:9). The world insults them, but God comforts them (2 Corinthians 1:4). The world dishonors them, but God glorifies them (Psalm 90:15; 1 Pet. 5:10) (104, 1759-1760).

If Christ is the head of the faithful, then those who are not united to Him in faith and love are not members of His body. Those who do not follow Him are not united with Him. Those who do not imitate His humility, patience, meekness, and other Divine manners do not follow Him. If Christ leads to heaven, then those who do not follow Him are sure to be mistaken. If Christ is our shepherd, then His sheep are not those who do not listen to His voice: "My sheep listen to My voice, and I know them; and they come after me" (John 10:27).