Prologue in Sermons: February 1

Simplicity of Faith, Combined with Almsgiving, Works Miracles

February 1

(A Homily on Saint Benedict, How He Redeemed a Poor Man by Asking God for Gold.)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Simplicity of faith, both in itself and especially when joined with almsgiving, works miracles. Of this we are convinced both by the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Holy Fathers. The Lord teaches about simplicity of faith: "If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, and say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" (Matt. 17:20). And Saint John Chrysostom says of almsgiving that it possesses “a greater grace than raising the dead.” Is this true, my brothers? Yes, it is truly so, and there should be no doubt about it.

There was, says the Church tradition, in the land of Rome a monk and glorious wonderworker named Benedict, who even raised the dead. He was exceedingly merciful and generous to everyone who asked of him. By his kindness, he was a father to many monasteries and a perfect non-possessor. Because of the alms he distributed so generously, the brethren of his monastery often endured extreme need, and there were days when neither in his own monastery nor in all the other monasteries to which he gave charity could even a single gold coin be found.

And so, to this merciful man there once came a certain pious man, pressed hard by his creditor, and he began to ask Benedict for twelve gold coins to pay his debt. Having nothing at all, the Venerable one said to him: “Forgive me, brother, for today I do not have what you ask; but come to me in two days, and then we shall see what will be.” After this, the Venerable one went to prayer and began to ask God that He would send him twelve gold coins, so that he might relieve the lot of the unfortunate debtor. And what happened? Soon after the Saint’s prayer, in one of the vessels there appeared not twelve, but thirteen gold coins. Shortly thereafter, the petitioner came again. Benedict gave him the gold that he had miraculously received from God and said: “Go, my child, and give these twelve gold coins to your creditor, and let the thirteenth be for your household needs.” Such miracles, the account concludes, are wrought by all-powerful almsgiving and simplicity of faith.

Thus, it is truly the case that simplicity of faith, especially when joined with almsgiving, works miracles. Yes, it was enough for the Venerable Benedict, in the simplicity of a childlike soul, to send up his petition to God, and the petition, one might say, was immediately and miraculously fulfilled. And this is not a single example. Read the Lives of the Saints, and there you will find many such examples. And if this is so, then strive to acquire childlike faith and to be diligent in almsgiving. And if you strive, then perhaps the Lord will work miracles also for you; and even if He does not, in any case "He who gives seed to the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply what you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness" (2 Cor. 9:10). And this, too, will be a great mercy of God for you. Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.