Therefore, instruct the rich of this world not to be arrogant. He has excluded the vice, let him teach its use. Do not be arrogant. But how not to be arrogant? From what follows: Nor to hope in the uncertainty of riches. Those who do not hope in the uncertainty of riches are not arrogant. If they do not think highly, let them fear. If they fear, they do not think highly. How many were rich yesterday, are poor today? How many sleep rich, and when robbers come and take everything, wake up poor? Therefore, do not hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who provides us with everything abundantly to enjoy: temporal and eternal. But more to enjoy, the eternal; to use the temporal. The temporal, as for travelers; the eternal, as for inhabitants. The temporal, from which to do good; the eternal, from which we may become good. Therefore, let the rich do this: not be arrogant, nor hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in the living God, who provides us with everything abundantly to enjoy: let them do this. From what they have, what should they do? Hear what: Let them be rich in good works, be generous. For they have the means. Why do they not do it? Poverty is a difficulty. Let them be generous, they have the means. Share, that is, recognize their fellow mortals. Share, store up for themselves a good foundation for the future. For when I say, he says: Be generous, share, I do not mean to strip them, to expose them, to leave them empty. I teach gain, when I show: Store up for themselves. For I do not want them to remain poor. Store up for themselves. I do not say to lose, but show where to invest. Store up for themselves a good foundation for the future, to take hold of the true life. Therefore, this is a false life: to take hold of the true life. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. What is the abundance of man in all his labor, which he labors under the sun? Therefore, the true life must be taken hold of, our possessions must be migrated to the place of true life; so that we may find there what we give here. He changes there, who changes us here.
How the rich ought to use their superfluities.
Therefore give to the poor, my brothers. Having food and clothing, let us be content with these. The rich man has nothing from his wealth except what the poor man asks of him: food and clothing. What then do you have more from all that you possess? You have received food, you have received necessary clothing. I say necessary, not empty, not superfluous. What more do you take from your wealth? Tell me. Certainly, all your surplus goods will be. Let what is superfluous to you be necessary to the poor. But I, you say, receive precious banquets, I eat precious foods. What about the poor? He eats cheap foods. The poor man eats cheap foods; I, he says, eat precious ones. I ask you, when you both are satisfied, the precious food enters into you; what happens when it enters? Would we not be ashamed of all the precious foods with which you are filled if we had mirrors in our stomachs? The poor man is hungry, the rich man is hungry: the poor man seeks to be filled, the rich man seeks to be filled. The poor man is filled with cheap foods, the rich man is filled with precious foods. Satisfaction is equal: possession is the same, where both wish to arrive; but one reaches it by a shortcut, the other by a longer route. But better, you say, do the precious things taste to me. You are hardly satisfied when full. You do not know how it tastes that hunger kindles. Nor did I say this in order to compel the rich to eat the meals and foods of the poor. Let the rich use the habit of their weakness: but let them be sorry that they cannot do otherwise. For indeed, they could do better if they could do otherwise. If, therefore, the poor man is not exalted by his beggary, why are you exalted by your weakness? Use selected, precious foods, because you are accustomed to it, because you cannot do otherwise; because if you change your habit, you fall ill. It is granted to you: use superfluous things, give necessary things to the poor; use precious things, give cheap things to the poor. He awaits from you, you await from God: he awaits the hand that was made with him, you await the hand that made you. But he not only made you, but also the poor with you. He gave you both one way, this life; you found companions, you walk one way: he carries nothing, you are excessively burdened: he carries nothing with him, you carry more with you than is needed. You are burdened: give to him from what you have; and you will both feed him and lessen your burden.
He urges toward alms.
Give, therefore, to the poor: I ask, I advise, I command, I order. Give whatever you want to the poor. For I will not hide from your Charity why I needed to address this matter with you. Since we have been here, going to church and returning, the poor have been asking us, and requesting that we tell you to give them something. They asked us to speak to you; and when they see they are not receiving from you, they think our efforts with you are in vain. They expect something from us as well. We give what we have, we give as best as we can: but are we able to meet their needs? Because we are not able to meet their needs, we become their emissaries to you. You have heard, you have praised: thanks be to God. You have received the seed, you have returned the words. These praises of yours rather burden us and put us in danger: we tolerate them and tremble among them. However, my brothers, these praises of yours are the leaves of the trees: the fruit is sought.