Бедность

The Holy Apostle James cries out to the rich: “Listen, you rich: weep and howl for your misfortunes that are coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and your clothes are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are rusty, and their rust will be a testimony against you and will consume your flesh like fire” (James 5:1-3). Concerning the poor and wretched, the same apostle says: “Listen, my beloved brethren: has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5). Hearing this, you wretched people, the beggars, the poor, the meager, oppressed by the rich, thank the Lord Christ, who prepared for you after your death the bosom of Abraham - the blessings of heaven and the Kingdom of Heaven. Endure here with gratitude all kinds of calamities, all kinds of oppression and insults, expecting to receive mercy from the Lord in that life. There your poverty will turn into wealth, your sighing into joy, and your tears into eternal joy, and the righteousness 2 that you endure here will turn into a martyr’s crown for you, and you will reign with Christ forever (1). Pravezh – torture for the purpose of extorting taxes. You might be interested in: