Christian Mission and Poverty

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Christian Mission and Poverty

favor. For if we seek for worthiness in our fellow-servants, and make diligent inquiry, the same also will God do to us; and if we demand explanations from our fellow-servants, we ourselves shall fail to gain favor from above. “With what judgment,” it is said, “you judge, you shall be judged” (Matt 8:2). But let us again turn our discourse to the subject on hand. Seeing this poor man, therefore, in the bosom of Abraham, the rich man said, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus.” Why does he not address his words to Lazarus? It seems to me that he was ashamed and daunted, and that he thought that Lazarus would assuredly retain an angry remembrance of the things done to him . . . We do not say this to disparage Lazarus; for he was not at all thus disposed—far from it; but the rich man, fearing such things as this, did not address him, but raised his voice to Abraham, whom he might suppose to be ignorant of what had happened. And now he strove to gain the service of that finger which he had often allowed to be licked by dogs. What then did Abraham say to him? “Son! you in your lifetime received your good things” (Luke 16:25). Mark the wisdom—mark the tenderness of the saint! He did not say, “Inhuman and cruel man! full of all wickedness! Having inflicted such evils on this man, do you now speak of benevolence, or pity, or compassion! Do you not blush! Are you not ashamed!” But what does he say? “Son,” he says, “you received your good things.” For it is also written, “You shall not add trouble to an afflicted soul” (Ecclus 4:3). The trouble which he has brought upon himself is sufficient . . . Why also did he not say