A few months ago I decided to read through the "Doctors of the Church," a group of people who were considered to have made a significant theological contribution to Christianity throughout the ages. One of the books I have read was by St. John Chrysostom, a man who lived in the early days of the church and wrote about equity. I enjoyed his work because it was challenging yet doctrinally sound. I would call it a summary of Christian economics.
The book I had broke his sermons into short page-long pieces, and since St. John's works are now considered "public domain" I wanted to reproduce what he said here - it will help me to keep in mind his advice as well as to share some good wisdom with those who otherwise might not seek it.
"The rich usually imagine that, if they do not physically rob the poor, they are committing no sin. But the sin of the rich consists in not sharing their wealth with the poor. In fact, the rich person who keeps all his wealth for himself is commiting a form of robbery. The reason is that in truth all wealth comes from God, and so belongs to everyone equally. The proof of this is all around us. Look at the succulent fruits which the trees and bushes produce. Look at the fertile soil which yields each year such an abundant harvest. Look at the sweet grapes on the vines, which give us wine to drink. The rich may claim that they own many fields in which fruits and grain grow, but it is God who causes seeds to sprout and mature. The duty of the rich is to share the harvest of their fields with all who work in them and with all in need."
No comments:
Post a Comment