Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Matthew 3:8
“Be like the earth. Bear fruit like her and do not fall short of what mere inanimate matter can achieve. The earth bears crops, not for her own benefit but for yours. You, on the other hand, when you give to the poor, are bearing fruit which you will gather in for yourself, since the reward for good deeds goes to those who perform them.”
Basil of Caesarea (330-379) in Homily De Caritate, 3, 6: PG 31, 266-267, 275.
We safely arrived in Prague. To stay awake we went for an evening walk and took this picture of Prague Castle from the famous Charles Bridge. Heading into Ukraine tomorrow.
And I have pivoted to this ancient treatise by Basil on almsgiving. He puts forth a profound idea: “Be like the earth.” Creation teaches us to bear fruit for our good and for the benefit of others.
Then, notice how he links the work of the land to our work in service to those in need. But when you ponder this topic, sometimes it seems confusing.
Let me shed light on a perceived inconsistency in Scripture that causes many to do nothing for the poor. There are two Greek words for poor with different instructions related to each one.
The word ptochos implies that a person is destitute. The word penes speaks of common person who does manual labor. The former cannot do meaningful work, while the latter must work if they can work.
Whenever we think about almsgiving, the Scriptures exhort us to show our Christian love by caring for the poor (ptochos). This reflects fruit in keeping with or consistent with repentance.
And if we rank among the manual working class, we must work because we can work. And we earn income for meeting our needs and sharing with others.
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor (penes); their righteousness endures forever.” 2 Corinthians 9:8-9
Read more