Is 58:7 Break your bread for the hungry. What you give to the poor, you give to God; for He Himself says: "Whatever you did to one of these least ones, you did to me" (Matt 25:40). If you do not give even a morsel of bread to God, with what disposition do you ask from Him the kingdom? The poor person asks you for alms; he does not ask it freely or without cost, but at a price greater than anything that can be devised in this world—namely, the love of God. You hear "the love of God," you hear of so incomparable a price, and yet you are not moved—what remarkable hardness of heart!
If you love riches, store them in heaven, and there you will find them again, returned with interest. For the poor will safely carry them for you into heaven. Thus Solomon says in Proverbs, chapter 19:17: "Whoever cares for the poor lends to the LORD, who will pay back the sum in full." And elsewhere: "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice" (Prov 21:3). And a little later: "Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered" (Prov 21:13).
And James the Apostle says in his epistle: "For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy" (Jas 2:13). But concerning almsgiving, Tobias says: "Almsgiving frees from death and purges all sin" (Tob 12:9). Therefore Ecclesiasticus says: "Store up almsgiving in your treasury, and it will save you from every evil" (Sir 29:12). And elsewhere: "Water quenches a flaming fire, and alms atone for sins" (Sir 3:30).
And bring the poor and the wandering into your house. Hence the blessed Paul, writing to the Hebrews, says: "Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels" (Heb 13:2). Scripture recalls that this was the case with Abraham and Lot. For just as fishermen, casting their nets into the sea to catch fish, sometimes draw up precious pearls, so these men, while receiving human guests, were found to have entertained angels. Indeed, it is similar in this way: those who receive strangers for Christ's sake receive Christ Himself. Thus the same Lord affirms in Matthew 10:40 and likewise in Luke 10:16: "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."
When you see the naked, clothe him, and do not despise your own flesh. Scripture recalls this in many places. But alas, how poorly this is observed! We see many who abound in costly and superfluous garments, while naked poor people perish from cold at their doors. They cover their walls with magnificent hangings and adorn them with painted and decorative fabrics, but they leave Christ's poor naked. The phrase "do not despise your own flesh" has this meaning: do not despise the poor, because they are of the same nature as you. Or it may refer to relatives, for there are some who, though overflowing with riches, despise their poor kinsmen. This interpretation is supported by the Septuagint, which reads: "Do not despise the members of your own household."
Is 58:8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning. If you do this, you will be enlightened by God; and just as the sun rises in the morning after the preceding darkness, so the Sun of justice will illuminate you. Or it may be understood thus: then you will be happy, and all things will flow according to your desire. In this sense, light is taken to mean prosperity.
And your justice shall go before your face. If you do these things, your justice will lead you into eternal blessedness, where you will be gathered together with the holy fathers.
Is 58:9 Then you shall call. If you do these things, the Lord will hear your prayers.
If you remove the chain from your midst. By chain is understood every usurious and impious obligation and every tyrannical yoke.
And if you cease to stretch out the finger. That is, to threaten punishments against others and to speak arrogantly. For angry people are accustomed to raise and extend their hands and fingers and to utter harsh and bitter words, as though they wished to tear out the eyes of others with both fingers and speech. Or again: if you cease to stretch out the finger toward what belongs to another. Or: if you cease to appoint an unworthy magistrate—for the ancients were accustomed to give their votes by raising fingers. The Septuagint reads: "If you remove from yourself binding and ordinance." Perhaps by ordinance they understand the appointment of magistrates. Pagninus translates: "That you do not send your finger into another's possession."
Is 58:10 When you pour out your soul for the hungry. That is, when you have had such compassion on the poor that you seem to pour out your very soul into them. Or soul is taken for life, which we ought to pour out for the salvation of our neighbors' souls.
Then your light shall rise in the darkness. That is, your calamities will be turned into joy. Or again: when the darkness of sin has been removed, you will be illuminated by grace. He will fill your soul with splendors. For just as the soul of the impious is enveloped in the darkness and gloom of sins, so the soul of the just is illuminated by the splendor of grace. Sacred Scripture wished to signify this in Exodus, where it says that while the Egyptians were surrounded by darkness, the Hebrews lived in light (Exod 10:23).
CONTINUE
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