The Fathers of the Church enlighten us
Do not be afraid when a man becomes rich and increases the glory of his house (Ps 48.17). Choose this verse as a treasure, put it as the foundation of your home, your life. Because wealth is not rich, but not wanting to get rich. Do you understand what I mean? Whoever wants to get rich needs to accumulate goods and money, while those who do not want to get rich always lives in opulence. (...)
Speaking and pretend not to speak, as I have said over and over again, slandering wealth but warn that misuse the good stuff. Riches adorned with good works, are good. So, how to become good? If riches come with remedias poverty, relief to poor and indigent. Let's hear what Job says of himself: I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame (Jb 29.15-16) Here a wealth itself contains no sin. But love for the poor: I opened my door to every passerby (Jb 31,32).See, this wealth is put at the service of wealth! (...) What I mean wealth? A wealth of virtue, wealth of almsgiving. There are rich that rob the other, as there are rich people who shared his own among the needy. One is enriched accumulating, the other dealing. One seed in the ground, the other cultivated the sky. One we love the crowds, the other accused the world. The truth that there is something that you should not be surprised: the greedy miser and not just those with hate his stinginess, but also those who did not suffer, the merciful, however, not only love that he were favored, but also everyone else.
P. Max Alexander
