ANCIENT PATHS

 

THE TRUE EVANGELICAL CONCEPTION OF POVERTY

The poverty the gospel praises is not so much the actual lack of goods as the absence of attachment to riches.  I can live miserably, lacking almost everything, and be strongly attached to the little I have, wanting more and more.  On the contrary, I can live by making good use of the things that are, yes, within my reach and that, however, do not stick to my heart.

In addition to this evangelical conception of poverty it is necessary to consider also the way in which the virtue of justice should preside over our relationship with goods.  The most delicate care must reign, lest we fall into the temptation of arbitrarily seizing the stranger.

The seventh commandment ("thou shalt not steal") commands us to respect another man's property, to pay the fair wages, and to observe justice in all that concerns the property of others.  To him who has sinned against the seventh commandment confession is not enough, but he must do what he can to restore the stranger and repair the damages.

The tenth commandment (“You shall not covet the goods of others”), forbids us the desire to take away others’ goods and the acquisition of wealth by unjust means.  God forbids disorderly desires for other people's goods because He wants us to be still inwardly righteous;  that we always keep very far away from wrongful actions and that we are happy with the state in which we find ourselves.

And we do not believe that all this is of little importance for our salvation.  St. Peter of Alcantara wrote, "What will you answer on that day, when you are called to account for all the time of your life and all the points and moments of it?"  (Treatise on Prayer and Meditation, 23).

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We invoke St. Mary, our Advocate and Refuge of sinners: Pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death.  May He teach us to make use of the goods of this world so that they are means and never obstacles on our way to Heaven.

Marcial Flavius - presbyter