Annotation CVI

”The lord of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect.” — Matthew 24:50

Whether fasting and chastity without almsgiving are of any avail.

Chrysostom, at the end of homily 78, seems to teach that fasting, prayer, chastity, and virginity, without almsgiving, profit nothing, saying: “Prayer takes [its] strength and wings from almsgiving. And not prayer alone, but fasting too is strengthened thence. For if you fast without almsgiving, this is not even reckoned [as] fasting; since [such a one] is worse than a slave of the belly and a drunkard who [still] fasts thus — and so much the worse, as cruelty is more wicked than [self-]indulgence. Why do I speak thus of fasting, when chastity itself and virginity, lacking almsgiving, is cast out from the bridechamber of the Bridegroom? For although virginity is indeed a great thing, yet, unless almsgiving accompany it, it is cast out.” These words are to be interpreted not of the external distribution of alms itself — which can neither always, nor by all, be done — but of the very affection and zeal of almsgiving, that is, of mercy and charity, without which no work is so excellent that it is worthy of the eternal reward. But if anyone should contend that Chrysostom speaks also of the external bestowal of alms, I would not much resist — provided only that these very words be granted to be said only of those who are so far devoid of fraternal charity that they refuse to bring aid to needy brethren even in [their] extreme necessities.