'The Bread You Possess Belongs to the Hungry'

[Sapphire Blue]

'The Bread You Possess Belongs to the Hungry'
by St. Basil

They say: Whom do I wrong by keeping my property? What, tell me, is your property? Where did you find it and brought it to your life? Just like someone in the theatre, who had a seat and then stopped those who entered, judging that what lies common in front of everyone to use, was his own: rich men are of the same kind. They first took possession of the common property, and then they keep it as their own because they were the first to take it. If one had taken what is necessary to cover one’s needs and had left the rest to those who are in need, no one would be rich, no one would be poor, no one would be in need.

Isn’t it true, that you fell off the womb naked? Isn’t it true, that naked you shall return to the earth? Where is your present property from? If you think that it came to you by itself, you don’t believe in God, you don’t acknowledge the creator and you are not thankful to him who gave it to you. But if you agree and confess that you have it from God, tell us the reason why he gave it to you. ...

Who is the greedy person? It’s him who doesn’t content himself with what he has. And who strips? He who steals what belongs to the others. And you think that you are not greedy, and that you do not strip the others? What was granted to you, in order for you to take care of the others, you took it and you made it your own. What do you think?

He who strips the clothed is to be called a thief. How should we name him, who is able to dress the naked and doesn’t do it, does he deserve some other name? The bread that you possess belongs to the hungry. The clothes that you store in boxes, belong to the naked. The shoes rotting by you, belong to the bare-foot. The money that you hide belongs to anyone in need. You wrong as many people as you were able to help.” —St. Basil

St. Basil was bishop of Caesarea in the 4th century.


http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=magazine.article&issue=soj0805&article=080511

[ismnotwasm]

1. "Live simply so that others may simply live"

Even when I fail at it, and have to continue to try, this is my ideal philosophy, my ultimate goal.

My daughter's landlady is one of the best examples of this, she walks her talk-- with food, with recycling, with material things, she cultivates a culture of generosity, acceptance and love around her as well.

She lives an incredibly full and rich life with many friends and lots of laughter.

[Dhalgren]

2. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing this.

If we could all just live by these few simple rules all our lives would be so much better...

[fasttense]

3. I would have helped you if I wasn't so greedy.

"You wrong as many people as you were able to help (and did not help).”

[rubberducky]

4. I will always support "Sapphire Blue".

Loved, loved, loved your mom. Mostly a lurker here, but I alwaysdid what she asked of me. This special lady never asked anything for herself. always she asked for others, who really had not "voice". Your sweet mother got me to call, e-mail, and write for action. Many thanks to you(Indigo) for carrying on the torch that your sweet mother lit.

[pansypoo53219]

5. well, all the money spent on stuff

is dirt cheap when you die. i do estate sales and pick the bones of the dying and dead. non digging archaeology. or heirlooms R' us. so, i don't do much other accumulation.

[mdmc]

6. trying to reduce here too

:kick:

[struggle4progress]

7. "He went to the preacher. He went to the sheriff.

He told them all the same.
Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the poor.
So they laid Jesus Christ in His grave."

-Woody Guthrie, c. 1940

[KitSileya]

8. I'm sorry I came too late to recommend this thread.

But I can kick it by replying.


I hadn't read this by St. Basil before, but I sure am going to print it out and keep it. It is a good reminder for all of us who are affluent (I may not have a house or a car, but I consider myself affluent because I can afford living non-frugally and still have some money left over.)

Thank you.