On Works and Almsgiving

Contents

Reading pages: 1–22 · 23–26

1. 1Besides the gift of redemption, God has given a further remedy for the sins committed after baptism: works of mercy and almsgiving.
2. 2Sins committed after baptism can be cleansed by almsgiving, as Scripture teaches and as Christ said: “Give alms, and all things are clean for you.”
3. 3Since no one is without sin, all need the remedy God has given for wounds received after healing.
4. 4Scripture constantly calls God's people to works of mercy; Isaiah says that fasting and sackcloth do not appease God, but feeding the hungry and clothing the naked do.
5. 5Scripture teaches that sins are redeemed by mercy to the poor, as Daniel counseled Nebuchadnezzar and Raphael told Tobit; prayers and fasts without almsgiving avail little.
6. 6Tabitha, devoted to almsgiving, was raised from the dead by Peter at the widows' pleading, showing that mercy frees even from bodily death.
7. 7Christ commands almsgiving more than anything else: sell your goods, lay up treasure in heaven, and buy the pearl of great price.
8. 8Those who give to the poor are true children of Abraham, like Zacchaeus; almsgiving shows faith, while the fruitless will be cut down.
9. 9Almsgiving will not impoverish, for Scripture promises that those who give will lack nothing and that God provides for those who seek his kingdom first.
10. 10Fearing to lose one's wealth, one loses one's soul; as Paul says, we brought nothing into the world, and the love of riches ruins faith.
11. 11God never lets the righteous go hungry, as he fed Elijah and Daniel; if he feeds the birds, he will provide for Christians who give.
12. 12Anyone who doubts that Christ will feed those who feed him is more a Pharisee than a Christian, like the covetous Pharisees who mocked Christ's teaching on almsgiving.
13. 13Fear for the future is only an excuse for avarice, which enslaves; like the rich fool, the miser will lose all, so he should share his wealth with Christ.
14. 14The rich who think themselves secure are, as the Apocalypse says, poor and naked; they should buy from Christ the gold, white clothing, and eye salve of almsgiving.
15. 15The rich who bring no offering to the Eucharist but eat what the poor offered should learn from the poor widow, whom Christ praised for giving all she had.
16. 16Children are no excuse for withholding alms, for Christ must be loved above family, and what is given to the poor is given to him.
17. 17The widow of Zarephath fed Elijah before her own children and was rewarded; Christians, redeemed by Christ, have still less excuse to put their children before him.
18. 18Many children are a reason to give more, not less, as Job offered sacrifices for each of his children.
19. 19The best provision for children is to entrust one's wealth to God, who protects it and blesses the children of the merciful.
20. 20Parents should teach their children what Tobit taught his son: serve God, do righteousness, and give alms according to their means.
21. 21Almsgiving is a public show with God, Christ, and the angels as spectators, and its reward is eternal life, not the fleeting applause of the crowd.
22. 22Cyprian imagines the devil taunting Christ that pagans spend fortunes on worthless games for him, while Christians, promised eternal life, will scarcely give to the poor.
23. 23The rich have no excuse, for Christ has foretold that at the judgment he will reward or condemn each according to what they did for the least of his brothers.
24. 24Christians should give generously now, sowing much so as to reap much and come to the heavenly banquet, while there is time.
25. 25The first Christians sold their property and held all in common; one who shares his goods with the brothers imitates God, who gives his gifts to all alike.
26. 26Cyprian praises almsgiving as a remedy for sin and a crown within reach of all; those who give will receive a white crown in peace and a purple one in persecution.