October 21
Who are the poor?
ho are the "poor"?
Those who live as though they were destitute, without resources, without
help, without anything on this earth upon which they can rely. To such
poor people God is present. For even if they have plenty of money, they
are mindful of what the apostle says: Tell the rich of this world not
to be proud or to put their trust in wealth, which is so uncertain.
Considering how unreliable are the things that gave them pleasure before
they came to the service of God, that is, before they entered the presses
of tribulation, they see that their wealth brings with it the pressure
of worry about its management and preservation; and if they yield a little
to desire so as to love this wealth, instead of enjoying it, they are filled
with fear. For what is so unreliable as something that can roll away? It
is quite fitting that coined money should be round, since it refuses to
stay in one place. Such people, then, in spite of their possessions, are
poor. On the other hand, those who have nothing but desire possessions
are counted among the reprobate rich. God, after all, is concerned not
about our property but about our will.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from
Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
HTML text prepared by David P. Steelman
