I've thought about the exorbitant cost of one Super Bowl ticket (in 2024, a ticket ranges from around $6K to six figures). I shudder at the chastisement that's upon us for this luxury! As such, I share the following salutary warning given by St. John Chrysostom on our stinginess toward the needy, and our misguided notions of saving for our children.
"I am ashamed to speak of alms since I have spoken so often on this theme; but without any great fruit from my exhortations. You have given more, but not as much as I have need of. I see that you sow, but not with a generous hand. And because of this I fear you shall reap but sparingly!
To prove that you sow but sparingly let us, if you will, estimate who are the more numerous in the city, the rich or the poor; and who are neither rich nor poor but hold a place in between? A tenth part of the city is rich, a tenth are the poor who possess nothing; the rest hold the middle place. Let us then divide the whole city among the poor, and you will see what a shameful state of things exits. For the rich are few. They who come next are many. The poor are far fewer than these. And though there are many who feed the poor, yet many go hungry to sleep. And this not because the rich have not the wherewith to feed them, but because they are hard and unfeeling. For were the rich and those next to them to apportion amongst them those who are in need of food and clothing, you would scarcely find one poor person to be helped for fifty or even a hundred of the rest. And though there are many who can help, yet day by day the poor go wanting. [...]
And if you wish let us reckon this up; nay, there is no need to reckon. For it is obvious how easily this could be done. See how often, and how much, one family does not hesitate to spend on a public occasion; and scarcely notices the cost? If one of the rich were to do this in the service of the poor, in one brief moment he would seize heaven.
What excuse have you, therefore, what shadow of excuse, when from that which departing from here we must leave behind we do not give as generously to the poor as others bestow on public display; and this when we could gain so much by dong so? And even were we to be in this world for ever we ought not to be sparing in this so worthy giving. But when in a little while we must go, borne naked hence, what plea have we to offer, we who from what flows into us give nothing to the poor and the hungry? [...]
Let us not then abuse His patience. Let us treasure up for ourselves, not wrath, but salvation; not death, but life; not penalties and punishment, but honour and a crown. There is no need here to pay the cost of the transport of your offerings; no need here to labour to turn them into money. If you but lay them down, the Lord will raise them to heaven. He will Himself make the transaction profitable for you. There is no need here to find someone to carry what you have offered. Offer it, and straightaway your offering ascends to heaven; not that by its soldiers [the poor] may be fed, but that it may be laid up for you with greater profit. Here below whatever you pay you cannot recover; there you shall receive it again, with great honour, and receive greater and spiritual profits. Here what is given is demanded; there it is a loan, capital, a debt. For God has given you a bond: He that hath mercy of the poor, lendeth to the Lord (Prov. xix. 17). [...]
So much have you received, and so much are you yet to receive, and yet you are sparing of money that will perish? And what excuse will you have? You look at your children, and you make excuses because of them. Teach these also to seek the same kind of gain. For if you have your capital placed at interest, and your debtor is an upright man, you would certainly prefer to leave a bond to your child instead of gold, so that he would thus have a safe return, and not be forced to seek others with whom to place it. Give such a deed to your children now, and leave them God as their debtor. [...] Let us not be poor in spirit; nor without mercy towards ourselves. But let us invest in this worthy enterprise: so that we may both bring it with us when we depart this life, and still leave it to our children; and so doing we shall attain to the things that are to come by the grace and mercy of Our Lord Jesus Christ."
CALL TO ACTION: Review your balance sheet. How much you are saving? How much are you spending, and on what? Does your spiritual balance include the cost of your sins? Have you considered how much almsgiving can counteract this debt?
Source: Quote above from "The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers" (St. John Chrysostom for Palm Sunday), Volume II, pages 178-180; Henry Regnery Company (copyright 1958); Imprimatur: E. Morrogh Bernard, Vic. Gen. Westmonasterii; Nihil Obstat: Hubertus Richards, S.T.L., L.S.S., Censor Deputatus
Photo by Daniel Vandenberg