Was St Basil WOKE? St Basil the Great On Social Justice, Parable of the Rich Fool
BruceStrom1
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Oct 02, 2024
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About This Presentation
Should the wealthy continually increase their savings? How much should the wealthy give to the poor? Would middle-class Americans be considered wealthy by St Basil?
How does greed lead to envy and covetousness?
How can we store our wealth in our storehouses in heaven? How can we fill our storehous...
Slide Content
Should the wealthy continually increase their savings? How
much should the wealthy give to the poor? Would middle-
class Americans be considered wealthy by St Basil?
How does greed lead to envy and covetousness?
How can we store our wealth in our storehouses in
heaven? How can we fill our storehouses in the hungry
bellies of the poor?
Is poverty the fault of the poor? Should the wealthy only
give alms to the deserving poor?
much should the wealthy give to the poor? Would middle-
class Americans be considered wealthy by St Basil?
How does greed lead to envy and covetousness?
How can we store our wealth in our storehouses in
heaven? How can we fill our storehouses in the hungry
bellies of the poor?
Is poverty the fault of the poor? Should the wealthy only
give alms to the deserving poor?
This reflection follows St Basil the Great’s Homily “To
the Rich Man,” which is included in this Social Justice
collection. We discuss St Basil’s life story as one of
the three Cappadocian Church Fathers in the fourth
century.
the Rich Man,” which is included in this Social Justice
collection. We discuss St Basil’s life story as one of
the three Cappadocian Church Fathers in the fourth
century.
https://youtu.be/PT_I5IrZGzY
We are planning another reflection on his homilies
“In Time of Famine and Drought” and “Against Those
Who Lend at Interest.” This collection of homilies “On
Social Justice” was delivered in response to a severe
drought and famine that struck Caesarea.
“In Time of Famine and Drought” and “Against Those
Who Lend at Interest.” This collection of homilies “On
Social Justice” was delivered in response to a severe
drought and famine that struck Caesarea.
Please, we welcome interesting questions in the
comments. Let us learn and reflect together!
At the end of our talk, we will discuss the sources
used for this video.
Please feel free to follow along in the PowerPoint
script we uploaded to SlideShare, which includes
illustrations. Our sister blog includes footnotes, both
include our Amazon book links.
comments. Let us learn and reflect together!
At the end of our talk, we will discuss the sources
used for this video.
Please feel free to follow along in the PowerPoint
script we uploaded to SlideShare, which includes
illustrations. Our sister blog includes footnotes, both
include our Amazon book links.
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St Basil, On Social Justice, Parable of the Rich Fool
https://youtu.be/UDQIZ81VfsY
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St Basil’s Homily, I Will Tear Down My Barns, reflects
on the Parable of the Rich Fool. But we must
remember, when reading Scriptures, to always read
the verses and chapters preceding and following the
Scriptures we are interested in.
on the Parable of the Rich Fool. But we must
remember, when reading Scriptures, to always read
the verses and chapters preceding and following the
Scriptures we are interested in.
All too often people do not read the
preamble to this parable, which ties
envy and covetousness to greed:
One of the multitude said to Jesus,
“Teacher, bid my brother divide the
inheritance with me.” But Jesus said
to him, “Man, who made me a
judge or divider over you?” And he
said to them, “Take heed, and
beware of all covetousness; for a
man’s life does not consist in the
abundance of his possessions.”
preamble to this parable, which ties
envy and covetousness to greed:
One of the multitude said to Jesus,
“Teacher, bid my brother divide the
inheritance with me.” But Jesus said
to him, “Man, who made me a
judge or divider over you?” And he
said to them, “Take heed, and
beware of all covetousness; for a
man’s life does not consist in the
abundance of his possessions.”
We have previously reflected on St Basil’s homilies on
envy, plus a series of reflections on envy, including
reflections by Martin Luther, Dr Laura, and the
Catholic Catechism and the Church Fathers.
envy, plus a series of reflections on envy, including
reflections by Martin Luther, Dr Laura, and the
Catholic Catechism and the Church Fathers.
https://youtu.be/XnFUrFKoF7s
https://youtu.be/FQmBggJAhKg
https://youtu.be/4G-k8NfvZJ8 https://youtu.be/8QHrtKGDzKM
https://youtu.be/FQmBggJAhKg
https://youtu.be/4G-k8NfvZJ8 https://youtu.be/8QHrtKGDzKM
This verse also teaches those of us who are teachers
or preachers: when we are asked a question, the
answer should be directed to all who are listening, so
all may benefit from the teachings.
or preachers: when we are asked a question, the
answer should be directed to all who are listening, so
all may benefit from the teachings.
And Jesus told them a parable: “The land of a
rich man brought forth plentifully; and he
thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have
nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will
do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger
ones; and there I will store all my grain and my
goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have
ample goods laid up for many years; take your
ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him,
‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and
the things you have prepared, whose will they
be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself
and is not rich toward God.”
The Rich Fool and Death, by David Kindt, 1622
rich man brought forth plentifully; and he
thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have
nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will
do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger
ones; and there I will store all my grain and my
goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have
ample goods laid up for many years; take your
ease, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him,
‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and
the things you have prepared, whose will they
be?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself
and is not rich toward God.”
The Rich Fool and Death, by David Kindt, 1622
We see this in Rembrandt’s famous painting of the
Rich Fool counting the coins he is hoarding with the
candlelight barely illuminating the darkness of his
soul. Rembrandt is known for the dark backgrounds
in his paintings, and here his detailed rendering of his
face wrinkled with his continual striving for wealth
tell us of a life wasted in selfish pursuits, of virtue
that could have been.
Rich Fool counting the coins he is hoarding with the
candlelight barely illuminating the darkness of his
soul. Rembrandt is known for the dark backgrounds
in his paintings, and here his detailed rendering of his
face wrinkled with his continual striving for wealth
tell us of a life wasted in selfish pursuits, of virtue
that could have been.
Parable of the
Rich Man, by
Rembrandt, 1627
Rich Man, by
Rembrandt, 1627
St Basil rues: “The Rich Fool was made
miserable by abundance, wretched by the
good things he possessed, and still more
wretched by the good things he still expected
to receive.” “He does not rejoice at all the
good things he has in store, but is rather
pricked by the heart by the wealth that slips
through his fingers, lest perhaps, as it
overflows the storehouses, some of it should
trickle down to those outside his walls, so as
to become a source of aid for those in need.”
miserable by abundance, wretched by the
good things he possessed, and still more
wretched by the good things he still expected
to receive.” “He does not rejoice at all the
good things he has in store, but is rather
pricked by the heart by the wealth that slips
through his fingers, lest perhaps, as it
overflows the storehouses, some of it should
trickle down to those outside his walls, so as
to become a source of aid for those in need.”
As St Basil observes, the
Rich Fool did not keep a
word of the
commandments: “Do
not neglect to do good
for the needy,” and “Do
not let mercy and loyalty
forsake you, and “Share
your bread with the
hungry.” “He did not
heed the urgings of all
the prophets and
teachers.” Christ and Rich Young Man , St Gabriel Church, Glendale, Ohio
Rich Fool did not keep a
word of the
commandments: “Do
not neglect to do good
for the needy,” and “Do
not let mercy and loyalty
forsake you, and “Share
your bread with the
hungry.” “He did not
heed the urgings of all
the prophets and
teachers.” Christ and Rich Young Man , St Gabriel Church, Glendale, Ohio
St Basil teaches us that whether we
receive sufferings or blessings, both these
should increase our two-fold Love of God
and love of neighbor. St Basil teaches us:
“Temptations come in two forms.
Sometimes affliction proves the heart like
gold in a furnace, testing its purity by
means of suffering. But for many, it is
prosperity of life that is the greatest trial.
For it is equally difficult to preserve one’s
soul from despair in hard times, and to
prevent it from becoming arrogant in
prosperous circumstances.”
receive sufferings or blessings, both these
should increase our two-fold Love of God
and love of neighbor. St Basil teaches us:
“Temptations come in two forms.
Sometimes affliction proves the heart like
gold in a furnace, testing its purity by
means of suffering. But for many, it is
prosperity of life that is the greatest trial.
For it is equally difficult to preserve one’s
soul from despair in hard times, and to
prevent it from becoming arrogant in
prosperous circumstances.”
Who benefits more, those who contribute,
or those who receive? St Basil teaches us,
Through the fruits of your good works,
“you produce for yourself, since the grace
of good works redounds to those who
perform them. You gave to the poor, and
in so doing not only did you make what
you gave truly your own, but you received
back even more. For just as grain, when it
falls upon the ground, brings forth an
increase for the one who scatters it, thus
also bread cast to the hungry yields
considerable profit at a later time.”
or those who receive? St Basil teaches us,
Through the fruits of your good works,
“you produce for yourself, since the grace
of good works redounds to those who
perform them. You gave to the poor, and
in so doing not only did you make what
you gave truly your own, but you received
back even more. For just as grain, when it
falls upon the ground, brings forth an
increase for the one who scatters it, thus
also bread cast to the hungry yields
considerable profit at a later time.”
This sentiment is most clearly taught
in Jesus’ exhortation in the Sermon on
the Mount:
“Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and
rust consume and where thieves
break in and steal, but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust consumes and
where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.”
Sermon on the Mount, Carl Bloch, painted 1877
in Jesus’ exhortation in the Sermon on
the Mount:
“Do not lay up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moth and
rust consume and where thieves
break in and steal, but lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust consumes and
where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.”
Sermon on the Mount, Carl Bloch, painted 1877
This is illustrated by the interesting story of how the apostle St
Thomas accepted substantial sums to build a sumptuous palace
for a King in India, but instead gave the money to the poor. The
king was quite angry when Thomas did not repent of this
deception, but decided not to execute our saint when a departed
relative appeared to him in a vision, thanking the king for the
palace built where Elvis sings with his choir, where he too had
been reserved a room fit for a king. This is not scriptural and is a
fanciful story, since the author takes the suggestion that Thomas
is a twin literally, imagining that Thomas was the twin brother of
Jesus, which totally wrecks the doctrine of the Incarnation.
Thomas accepted substantial sums to build a sumptuous palace
for a King in India, but instead gave the money to the poor. The
king was quite angry when Thomas did not repent of this
deception, but decided not to execute our saint when a departed
relative appeared to him in a vision, thanking the king for the
palace built where Elvis sings with his choir, where he too had
been reserved a room fit for a king. This is not scriptural and is a
fanciful story, since the author takes the suggestion that Thomas
is a twin literally, imagining that Thomas was the twin brother of
Jesus, which totally wrecks the doctrine of the Incarnation.
https: //y outu. be/Nq_UwpKe84A
https://youtu.be/Nq_UwpKe84A
https://youtu.be/Nq_UwpKe84A
Likewise, St Basil the Great teaches us that “if we
want storehouses to store our wealth, we have
them in the stomachs of the poor. Lay up for
yourself treasure in heaven. The riches deposited
there are not devoured by moths, nor are they
spoiled by corruption, nor do thieves break in and
steal them. But you reply, ‘I will give to the needy
when I have filled the second set of barns.’”
St Basil continues, “You are so sure that the years
of your life will be many; beware, lest death the
pursuer catch up to you sooner than you expect!
And even your promise is not a token of
goodness, but rather a sign of your evil intent.”
St Basil, Church of St. Nicholas, Prague, Czech Republic.
want storehouses to store our wealth, we have
them in the stomachs of the poor. Lay up for
yourself treasure in heaven. The riches deposited
there are not devoured by moths, nor are they
spoiled by corruption, nor do thieves break in and
steal them. But you reply, ‘I will give to the needy
when I have filled the second set of barns.’”
St Basil continues, “You are so sure that the years
of your life will be many; beware, lest death the
pursuer catch up to you sooner than you expect!
And even your promise is not a token of
goodness, but rather a sign of your evil intent.”
St Basil, Church of St. Nicholas, Prague, Czech Republic.
St Basil warns: “The hungry are
perishing, the naked are freezing to
death, the debtors are unable to
breathe, and will you put off showing
mercy until tomorrow?” “Demolish
every storehouse of greed, pull down
the roofs, tear away the walls, expose
the moldering grain to the sunlight,
lead forth from prison the fettered
wealth, vanquish the gloomy vaults of
Mammon.”
perishing, the naked are freezing to
death, the debtors are unable to
breathe, and will you put off showing
mercy until tomorrow?” “Demolish
every storehouse of greed, pull down
the roofs, tear away the walls, expose
the moldering grain to the sunlight,
lead forth from prison the fettered
wealth, vanquish the gloomy vaults of
Mammon.”
St Basil continues: “Though
you speak to yourself in secret,
your words are examined in
heaven. Thus, it is from
heaven that you will receive
your reply. But what sort of
things do you say to yourself?
‘Soul, you have ample goods
laid up for many years: relax,
eat, drink, and be merry day
after day.’ Oh, what
senselessness! If you had the
soul of a pig, what better news
could you have given it?”
Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by Heinrich Hofmann, 1889
you speak to yourself in secret,
your words are examined in
heaven. Thus, it is from
heaven that you will receive
your reply. But what sort of
things do you say to yourself?
‘Soul, you have ample goods
laid up for many years: relax,
eat, drink, and be merry day
after day.’ Oh, what
senselessness! If you had the
soul of a pig, what better news
could you have given it?”
Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by Heinrich Hofmann, 1889
St Basil asks us: “Why then
are you wealthy while
another is poor? Why else,
but so that you might receive
the reward of benevolence
and faithful stewardship,
while the poor are honored
for patient endurance in their
struggles? But you, stuffing
everything into the
bottomless pockets of your
greed, assume that you
wrong no one, yet how many
do you in fact dispossess?”
Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by AN Mironov
are you wealthy while
another is poor? Why else,
but so that you might receive
the reward of benevolence
and faithful stewardship,
while the poor are honored
for patient endurance in their
struggles? But you, stuffing
everything into the
bottomless pockets of your
greed, assume that you
wrong no one, yet how many
do you in fact dispossess?”
Christ and the Rich Young Ruler, by AN Mironov
St Basil recounts the Scriptures: “How can I
bring the sufferings of the poor to your
attention, so that you might realize from what
misery you are collecting riches for yourself?
Oh, how desirable will these words appear to
you on the day of judgment: ‘Come, you who
are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the
world; for I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to
drink, I was naked and you gave me clothing.’”
Basil the Great, cathedral of Ohrid, 11
th
Century
bring the sufferings of the poor to your
attention, so that you might realize from what
misery you are collecting riches for yourself?
Oh, how desirable will these words appear to
you on the day of judgment: ‘Come, you who
are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom
prepared for you from the foundation of the
world; for I was hungry and you gave me food,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to
drink, I was naked and you gave me clothing.’”
Basil the Great, cathedral of Ohrid, 11
th
Century
St Basil repeats what Jesus warned us:
“But how great will be the trembling,
the sweat, and the darkness that
surround you when you hear the
sentence, ‘You who are accursed,
depart from me into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels;
for I was hungry and you gave me no
food, I was thirsty and you gave me
nothing to drink, I was naked and you
did not give me clothing.’”
“But how great will be the trembling,
the sweat, and the darkness that
surround you when you hear the
sentence, ‘You who are accursed,
depart from me into the eternal fire
prepared for the devil and his angels;
for I was hungry and you gave me no
food, I was thirsty and you gave me
nothing to drink, I was naked and you
did not give me clothing.’”
Notice how this critical lesson is repeated, first from
the perspective of the poor, then from the
perspective of the uncaring wealthy man, who
perhaps blames the poor for their poverty. If they
had only attended the same expensive schools as the
rich man did, then they could have pulled themselves
up by their bootstraps without help from the
wealthy!
the perspective of the poor, then from the
perspective of the uncaring wealthy man, who
perhaps blames the poor for their poverty. If they
had only attended the same expensive schools as the
rich man did, then they could have pulled themselves
up by their bootstraps without help from the
wealthy!
The Rich Man
and Lazarus, the
beggar, Rila
Monastery,
Bulgaria
and Lazarus, the
beggar, Rila
Monastery,
Bulgaria
Discussing the Sources
This writing by St Basil the Great, On Social Justice, is part of the Popular Patristic
Series of St Vladimir’s Seminary Press. Usually these are excellent translations, some
volumes also have the Greek, but not this volume. And the introduction and
footnotes were excellent. They didn’t discuss how many ancient manuscripts
survived, but likely multiple copies did survive, since the Cappadocian Church
Fathers, including St Basil, his brother St Gregory of Nazianzus, and his best friend St
Gregory of Nyssa, were beloved by the early church. We have previously reflected
on St Gregory of Nyssa’s homilies on the Sermon on the Mount.
We will be reflecting on the next steps on avarice and poverty we are climbing in the
Ladder of Divine Ascent. In his commentary, Father Vassilios Papavassiliou
references both St Basil’s On Social Justice and St John Chrysostom’s On Wealth and
Poverty, which are homilies on the Parable of Lazarus and his friend, the Rich Young
Man.
Series of St Vladimir’s Seminary Press. Usually these are excellent translations, some
volumes also have the Greek, but not this volume. And the introduction and
footnotes were excellent. They didn’t discuss how many ancient manuscripts
survived, but likely multiple copies did survive, since the Cappadocian Church
Fathers, including St Basil, his brother St Gregory of Nazianzus, and his best friend St
Gregory of Nyssa, were beloved by the early church. We have previously reflected
on St Gregory of Nyssa’s homilies on the Sermon on the Mount.
We will be reflecting on the next steps on avarice and poverty we are climbing in the
Ladder of Divine Ascent. In his commentary, Father Vassilios Papavassiliou
references both St Basil’s On Social Justice and St John Chrysostom’s On Wealth and
Poverty, which are homilies on the Parable of Lazarus and his friend, the Rich Young
Man.
https://youtu.be/wuqwy3GyO_4
https://youtu.be/XnFUrFKoF7s
https://youtu.be/xaqFTPgoDI0
https://youtu.be/XnFUrFKoF7s
https://youtu.be/xaqFTPgoDI0
YouTube Channel (click to subscribe):
Reflections on Morality, Philosophy, and History:
St Basil, On Social Justice, To The Rich
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
https://www.youtube.com/@ReflectionsMPH/?sub_confirmation=1
https://amzn.to/3BgIkeQ
© Copyright 2024 Become a patron:
https://youtu.be/PT_I5IrZGzY
St Basil, On Social Justice, Parable of the Rich Fool
https://youtu.be/UDQIZ81VfsY
St Basil, On Social Justice, Drought and Famine
https://youtu.be/c8YXs7y4RrU
Reflections on Morality, Philosophy, and History:
St Basil, On Social Justice, To The Rich
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
https://www.youtube.com/@ReflectionsMPH/?sub_confirmation=1
https://amzn.to/3BgIkeQ
© Copyright 2024 Become a patron:
https://youtu.be/PT_I5IrZGzY
St Basil, On Social Justice, Parable of the Rich Fool
https://youtu.be/UDQIZ81VfsY
St Basil, On Social Justice, Drought and Famine
https://youtu.be/c8YXs7y4RrU
To find the source of any direct
quotes in this blog, please type in
the phrase to the search box in
my blog to see the referenced
footnote.
YouTube Description has links for:
•Script PDF file
•Blog
•Amazon Bookstore
© Copyright 2024
Blog and YouTube Description
include links for Amazon books
and lectures mentioned, please
support our channel with these
affiliate commissions.
Blog:https://wp.me/pachSU-1hv
quotes in this blog, please type in
the phrase to the search box in
my blog to see the referenced
footnote.
YouTube Description has links for:
•Script PDF file
•Blog
•Amazon Bookstore
© Copyright 2024
Blog and YouTube Description
include links for Amazon books
and lectures mentioned, please
support our channel with these
affiliate commissions.
Blog:https://wp.me/pachSU-1hv
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
https://www.meetup.com/Reflections/
https://www.meetup.com/Reflections/
https://www.patreon.com/seekingvirtueandwisdom
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLqDkfFbWhXOnzdjp__YZtg/
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