Monday, December 06, 2004

St. Nicholas

The day of the death of Nicholas, the figure behind (perhaps) Santa Claus. So, for this day, a little wisdom from the 4th century.

"What keeps you from giving now? Isn't the poor person there? Aren't your own warehouses full? Isn't the reward promised? The command is clear: the hungry person is dying now, the naked person is freezing now, the person in debt is beaten now-and you want to wait until tomorrow? "I'm not doing any harm," you say. "I just want to keep what I own, that's all." You own! You are like someone who sits down in a theater and keeps everyone else away, saying that what is there for everyone's use is your own. . . . If everyone took only what they needed and gave the rest to those in need, there would be no such thing as rich and poor. After all, didn't you come into life naked, and won't you return naked to the earth?

"The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry person; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to the person who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the person with no shoes; the money which you put in the bank belongs to the poor. You do wrong to everyone you could help, but fail to help."

Basil
4th Century

8 comments:

  1. My fiance and I celebrate Nikolaus every year, as she is German. This year, a bit late due to the house having flooded, but it's still happening.

    And I'm linking to you, Jeffers!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Robert,

    Just remember I knew you when!

    ReplyDelete
  3. They had banks and theatres in the 4th century? I guess I'll have to brush up on my late roman history. :)

    Nice work my man. You may find the need to go with Haloscan if too many of us follow.

    I have a feeling that you will enjoy this.

    Take care,

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just realized I just missed an "uber-frist," and I am glad.

    ReplyDelete
  5. You know the Xians stole the whole St. Nick thing from us, though, right. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is a helluva way to do homelitics, padre...

    ps: I can get you 2 lbs of pinon coffee for 10 bux [plus shipping]

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey, MasterCard charges up 15% last weekend. No money for the poor. Everyone's too busy paying interest on crap they already bought that they didn't need.

    ReplyDelete
  8. konopell--

    tell me where to send the check!

    as for getting Haloscan: you think I know what I'm doing here?!

    ReplyDelete