Homilies on First Thessalonians 3 part 2/2

but if we see that they are not grieved, we thereafter desist, as having no way to sting them;

What say you? Do you not see those who sail upon the sea, how they take no thought for their goods when a storm comes, but even cast overboard what they have? And no one says, 'What are you doing, man? Do you make common cause with the tempest and with shipwreck? Before the wave has taken your wealth from you, do you do this with your own hands? Why, before the shipwreck, do you cast yourself into shipwreck?' But these things a boorish man might say, one inexperienced in the perils at sea;

whereas the mariner, who knows precisely both what makes for calm and what makes for storm, will laugh the man who says such things to scorn;

'For this very reason,' he says, 'I cast the cargo overboard, that no flood may come in.'

So too the man experienced in the affairs of this life and in its trials, when he sees the storm bearing down and the spiritual powers of wickedness bent on working shipwreck, casts away

the remnant of his goods.

A theft has befallen you; give alms, and you lighten the ship.

Have the robbers plundered you? Then you give what is left to Christ;

so too will you find consolation for the poverty brought on by your former losses.

Lighten the ship, do not hold fast to what remains, lest the vessel be swamped.

Those men, that they may save their bodies, make a jettison of their gear, and do not wait for the wave to come and capsize the vessel;

will you, that you may save souls, not put a stop to the shipwreck? Make trial of it, I beg you, if you are unbelieving; make trial, and you shall see the glory of God.

Whenever something grievous befalls you, give alms at once, give thanks that it has happened, and you shall see how great a joy comes upon you.

For the spiritual gain, however small it be, is so great as to hide every bodily loss.

So long as you have something to give to Christ, you are rich.

Tell me: if, when you had been robbed, the emperor came to you and stretched out his hand, deeming it worthy to receive something from you, would you not think yourself richer than all men, if even after such poverty the emperor is not ashamed of you? Be not swept away;

only master yourself, and you will master the devil's plot.

It is in your power to gain great things.

Let us despise wealth, that we may not despise the soul. But how might one despise it? Do you not see the beauty of bodies, and those who are enamored of them?

So long as it is before the eyes, the fire is kindled, the flame mounts up bright;

but when one leads them far away, all is quenched, all is laid to rest? So it is with wealth also: let no one fashion gold, let no one get precious stones, let no one get necklaces;

these things, when seen, allure the eyes.

But if you wish to be rich as the men of old were, be rich not in gold, but in the necessaries of life, that you may also be ready to supply others;

such wealth is both easy prey for robbers to plot against, and brings us cares;

do not acquire vessels of gold and silver, but let there be storehouses of grain, of wine, of oil;

let there be such, not that they may again be sold off to make silver, but that they may be dispensed to the needy.

If we withdraw ourselves from those superfluous things, we shall attain to the heavenly good things;

which may it be granted us all to attain, in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, might, honor, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.