Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew 57 part 2/2

those of the hands, those of the careful management of one's possessions? Why do you rage and wander in your madness, tilling thorns for nothing? But do the fruits of the earth suffer failures, and hail and mildew and floods of rain? Yet not so many as usury does.

For however many such things happen, the loss concerns only the revenue;

but the capital stands firm—the field.

But here many have often suffered shipwreck even in the capital itself;

and even before the loss they are in continual dejection.

For the moneylender never enjoys his possessions, nor is glad because of them; but when the interest comes in, he does not rejoice that a return has been made, but grieves that the interest has not yet overtaken the capital;

and before this evil offspring is perfectly brought forth, he compels it too to bring forth, making the interest into capital, and forcing it to yield untimely and abortive births—the brood of vipers.

More than those wild beasts they devour and rend the souls of the wretched.

This is the knot of violent contracts.

'For I give,' he says, 'not that you may receive, but that you may pay back more.'

And God, on the other hand, does not even bid you take back what is given;

'For give,' He says, 'to those from whom you do not expect to receive;'

but you demand back even more than what was given, and what you did not give, this you compel the receiver to pay down as though it were owed.

And you indeed think that your substance is thereby increased;

but in place of substance you are kindling the fire that is unquenchable.

In order, then, that this may not come to pass, let us cut out the wicked womb of usury, let us maim its lawless throes, let us dry up this deadly belly, and let us pursue only the true and great gains.

And what are these? Hear Paul saying that 'Godliness with contentment is great gain.'

This wealth, then, let us alone be rich in, that both here we may enjoy security, and may attain to the good things to come, by the grace and love toward man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages.