A HOMILY FOR THE TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
About Almsgiving
Brothers and sisters!
Today’s Gospel reading tells the story of an acquisitive rich man, reminds us of how death often strikes unexpectedly, and warns us not to devote undue attention to establishing our material or financial security, but to be rich toward God; that is, to devote what we own and, indeed, our very life to the service of the Giver of every blessing. It begins, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: and he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? The man in question was already rich, but a good crop promised even greater abundance. He was delighted by this, but hardly had time to enjoy his happiness when it was overshadowed by a fresh concern: there was insufficient room in his barns for the expected harvest.
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater: and there will I bestow all my fruits, and my goods. His new level of prosperity would bring enhanced status, and it would not be enough to erect a few modest, additional barns. The splendid new barns must be big enough to store both previous and the current year’s harvests. As for his existing barns, they must be pulled down, as unworthy of a man of his increased importance.
And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. The rich man was deluding himself on two counts. Firstly, he thought that once he had built the new barns, he would be free from care, not understanding that our efforts to put everything perfectly in order inevitably create additional concerns that themselves demand attention. Secondly, he did not take into consideration the inconstancy of this brief life. He gave no thought to God or eternity and so set himself up for complete disappointment.
But God said unto him, Thou fool! This night thy soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Divine judgment overtook him, and in a single moment all his hopes, plans, and dreams came to naught. Earthly happiness, which he was so eager to procure, vanished from his sight like a puff of smoke, and he found himself translated to another life, for which he had not prepared himself at all. He left behind all his riches, which no longer counted for anything.
So is he that layeth up treasures for himself, and is not rich toward God. What happened to the rich man can happen to any of us, dear Christians, if we concern ourselves merely with worldly prosperity and goals, and are not rich toward God. By being rich toward God our Lord Jesus Christ means, in a general sense, that our devotion to God should be absolute, and in particular, that we should be thankful for what we have, content with it, and eager to return as much of it as we can to the divine Giver of all blessings; that is, we should be generous to the Lord’s church and happy to give alms to the poor.
On numerous occasions I have reminded you that the Lives of the Saints are full of stories about how God punishes the tightfisted. One of the most interesting of these is found in the Life of our holy father Epiphanius of Cyprus. Let me read it to you today.
“Once a deacon from Jerusalem came to Saint Epiphanius, Archbishop of Cyprus, and related how John, the Bishop of the Holy City, being a lover of money, stashed away wealth and overlooked the poor. Hearing this, Epiphanius sent John a letter, urging him to show mercy on the needy, but John continued to neglect them. Years passed, and one day Epiphanius summoned a disciple and said, ‘Child, let us go to Jerusalem.’
“After venerating the Holy Places, Epiphanius went to Bishop John and said, ‘Father, provide me a place to stay.’ John appointed him a fine house and summoned the saint daily for supper, but continued to show no regard for the needy, who complained bitterly about him. Observing this, Epiphanius told him, ‘Father, give me money to distribute as alms.’ John gave him a large sum, but Epiphanius asked for more. John provided it, and then Epiphanius requested several servants. John consented to this, too. With five hundred pounds of silver at his disposal, Epiphanius began distributing alms day and night.
“Some time passed, and Bishop John asked Epiphanius ‘When will you be paying your debt?’
“‘Be patient, Father,’ replied the saint, ‘and you will have what is yours in full.’
“Many days passed, and John demanded that Epiphanius reimburse him at once. Grabbing the saint by the robe, he screamed, ‘Give me back my money, you swindler, or I will not let you go!’ He berated Epiphanius for two hours, scandalizing everyone in the house. Epiphanius finally silenced him by spitting in his face. The onlookers’ dismay immediately turned to horror when Bishop John lost his sight. John came to his senses, fell at the saint’s feet, and begged him to pray God to restore his vision. Epiphanius advised him, ‘Go to church and pray before the precious Cross, beseeching the Lord to heal you.’ Bishop John, however, would not leave Epiphanius and continued to entreat his help. At length the holy Archbishop took pity on him, laid his hand on John’s head, and restored sight to his right eye. John beseeched him to heal his left eye as well, but Epiphanius explained, ‘This is not mine to do, but God’s. The Lord blinded you and can effect a cure just as easily; but know well that this has taken place for a reason: to teach you to flee avarice.’ As a result of his chastisement, John began to live in a godly manner and show generosity to the poor.”
Dear brothers and sisters, try to remember today’s Gospel lection and the various stories about almsgiving in the Lives of the Saints, for if you call these to mind frequently and meditate upon them seriously, you will be moved to generosity and reap its blessings. God has provided most of us with everything we need, so let us not stint in providing for the poor. We have no assurance that treasure stored up on earth will help us in any way, but the Scriptures pledge that alms do deliver from death, and suffereth not to come unto darkness,[1] and alms maketh a reconciliation for sins.[2] Provide for your soul in eternity, ease the plight of those less fortunate than yourself, and prove yourself rich toward the Lord, Who first proved Himself rich toward you and Who promises, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.[3] Amen.
[1] Tob. 4:10
[2] Eccl. 3:30
[3] Matt. 5:7
