Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 2: Psalms 18–38

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Psalm 22 with Cassiodorus – TheWealth of the Poor He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one (v. 24), as people who boast of their distinction in this world often do; they are insulting toward the poor, despising beggars, assessing a person’s cause by the quality of their clothing, so that if they are well dressed they are considered truthful, but if their clothing is shabby, they are regarded as a complete liar. But it is totally different in the eyes of God, who does not judge by clothing, and who does not honor wealth. He hears and aids the prayers of the faithful poor. The needy person is precious to him, provided that he is wealthy in holiness.

The poor will eat and be satisfied (v. 26). These are the vows which the psalmist spoke of earlier. Realise that by poor he meant those who rejected the attractions of this world with the richest contempt; not the wealthy, stuffed with this world’s happiness, but

Cassiordorus on Psalm 22 “The rich accumulate treasures on earth, the poor grow rich with heavenly abundance.”

the poor, those hungry for God’s kingdom. So he added: will . . . be satisfied ; only those possessed by such hunger could be filled. Those who seek the LORD will praise him— may your hearts live forever! He stood by his previous words, for when the poor have been filled, they will praise the Lord. The poor praise the Lord, the rich exalt themselves. The rich accumulate treasures on earth, the poor grow rich with heavenly abundance. Their resources differ, but their mentalities are totally at odds. In short, the rich get their wealth from the world, the poor from God. How very different are the vows which they have fulfilled! The poor possess what they can never lose; the rich hold what not only the dead but even the living often lose.