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Brothers and partners in poverty (for we are all poor and need the grace of God, although it seems that one is superior to the other when we measure people with small measures)! Receive the message of love for the poor, not with the poor, but with a generous disposition of spirit, so that you may inherit the riches of the Kingdom (1). Let us not be unrighteous stewards of what has been entrusted to us, lest we hear the formidable words of Peter: “Be ashamed, you who keep the property of others, imitate the goodness of God, equal to all, and then there will not be a single poor.” 7 Let us not torment ourselves by collecting and preserving treasures, while others are tormented by poverty, lest the Divine Amos strike us with cruel reproaches and threats, who cries: You who say: When the new moon is past for us to sell grain, and the Sabbath to open the barns (Am. 8:5), - and then, in the words that follow, threatens with the wrath of God people who have a small measure and a great measure. May blessed Amos not reprove us, who, reproaching the Jews for the fact that they laze on beds of ivory, anoint themselves with the most expensive aromas, fatten their bodies, eating the tender flesh of calves from the herds and goats from the flocks, accompanying the sounds of organs with applause, and then even more strongly condemning the fact that they consider these pleasures constant and lasting, condemns luxury (since from resentment is born from satiety) and adds a new one to this condemnation of immoderate pleasures, imputing, perhaps, even greater guilt that the sensualists, indulging in pleasures, are not at all pained by Joseph’s misfortune (Am. 6:4-6). May this condemnation not befall us! Let us not allow ourselves to become so lost in pleasure as to neglect the love of God, Who is irritated by this, although not suddenly, not immediately after the crime, brings His wrath upon sinners (1). It seems that we also need philanthropy and kindness towards the poor in order to stop the mouths of those who think wrongly about it and not to give in to their vain wisdom... that is, not to turn cruelty into law to the detriment of ourselves. But most of all let us honor here the commandment and admonitions of the Word of God. What is this commandment? See how God-inspired men constantly inspire her and how close she is to their hearts. They do not proclaim it in such a way that they say something about the poor once or twice and then retreat; it is not that some mention mercy and others do not, or that some talk about it more and others less, as if it were not an important and extremely necessary subject. No, all of them and each one in particular, considering this commandment to be the main one or one of the main ones, zealously encourage us to fulfill it, sometimes with admonitions, sometimes with threats, sometimes with reproaches, and sometimes with praises of the merciful, and all this in order to strengthen its effect in our hearts by constant reminders of this commandment. It is said: for the sake of the suffering of the poor and the groaning of the needy, I will now rise, says the Lord (Ps. 11:6). Who will not fear the rising Lord? And in another place: Arise, O Lord my God! May Your hand be lifted up, do not forget Your poor (Ps. 9:33). Let us reject through prayer such an exaltation of the hand of God and do not want to see it raised against the rebellious or, what is even more painful, directed at the hard-hearted. And one more thing: I have not forgotten the cry of the poor; The beggar will not be forgotten forever (Ps. 9:13, 19); His eyes look upon the poor (Ps. 10:4); and such charity is better and more excellent than the contact of pupils 8 . His eyes test the sons of men (Ps. 10:4), which is, as it were, a lower and secondary discipline. But perhaps someone will say that this is talking about the poor and wretched, unjustly oppressed. I don’t argue, but this very thing should motivate you to love humanity. If the Lord cares so much for the poor when they are offended, then, of course, He will reward you even more for them when they receive benefits from you. He who mocks a beggar blasphemes his Creator (Proverbs 17:5), but he who cares about creation honors the Creator. Again, when you hear the words: rich and poor meet each other: the Lord created both (Proverbs 22:2), then do not think that the Lord created one poor and the other rich so that you could attack the beggar even more, for it is not known whether such a division came from God. These words of Scripture show only that both the poor and the rich were created equally by God, although their external fate is not the same. Let this move you to compassion and brotherly love, and if, when you look at your wealth, you become proud, then let the thought of a common Creator humble you and lead you into the limits of modesty. What else? He who does good to the poor lends to the Lord (Proverbs 19:17). Who would not want to have a debtor who will repay the debt in due time with interest? And again: sin is cleansed by mercy and righteousness (Proverbs 16:6). So, let us cleanse ourselves with mercy, we will wipe away with this beautiful grain the impurities and filthiness of our souls and let us become white, some like waves, others like snow (see Isa. 1:18), according to the measure of our charity (1)! But with the same reverence I look at the ark of 9 Christ (see John 12:6), urging us to feed the poor; and the agreement of Paul and Peter that, having divided the preaching of the Gospel among themselves, they cared for the poor with their common strength; and the limit and law of perfection indicated to the young man; Give your property to the poor (see Matt. 19:21). Don't you think that love for humanity is not a necessity for you, but a matter of arbitrariness, not a law, but advice? I myself would very much like to think so; but I am frightened by the left side and the goats, and the reproaches that they will hear from the one who placed them on the left. They will be condemned not for robbery, not for sacrilege, not for adultery or other sins prohibited by law, but for not serving Christ in the person of the poor (1). Do not despise tears, you who yourself endured what was worthy of many tears and then received mercy. Do not push away from yourself the poor one who is enriched by the Divine; otherwise, at least do not enrich yourself to the detriment of the poor, for this also means a lot given our insatiability. Do not despise the stranger for whom Christ was a stranger (and with Christ we are all strangers and strangers), lest you continue to be removed from paradise. To the one in need of shelter, food and clothing, provide this to him who takes advantage of it, and beyond his need (1). Adorn yourself with the good things of life and do not despise the poor orphan (2). The safest person is a poor person. He is turned to God and looks at Him alone. Cover him in your arms. And a powerful eagle, as they say, warms a small bird in its nest (2). These words are taken from the Apostolic Constitutions. Zenitsa is the pupil. – Approx. ed. Cash drawer. – Approx. ed. You might be interested in: