Prologue in Sermons: March 30

 

Alms Return to Those Who Give Them

March 30

(A word about the maiden Mononia, how Saint Makarios saved her, though she had been unmerciful.)*

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

The Lord says: “Make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when you fail, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings” (Luke 16:9). What does this mean?

“This means that with earthly, perishable, and fleeting wealth, one can nevertheless, by using it properly, acquire for oneself friends — the poor, the needy, and in general those requiring help and assistance — here on earth; and they can obtain for us eternal dwellings in heaven, since such use of wealth is a virtue, for which there will follow a reward in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Commentary of Bishop Michael on verse 9 of chapter 16 of Luke, p. 474).

And Saint John Chrysostom says: “He who distributes wealth to the poor uses it for the benefit of his soul” (Homily on Avarice). The same truth is confirmed by examples.

There lived in Alexandria a maiden named Mononia, who, although she was a nun, loved money, collected gold, and was distinguished by greed. And although she was wealthy, she never gave anything to strangers, nor to the poor, nor to widows, nor to monasteries.

At that time there lived in Alexandria Saint Makarios the presbyter, a great lover of the poor, who wished to bring Mononia to her senses. For this purpose, he devised the following plan. In his youth he had worked in polishing precious stones, and everyone knew this.

So one day he came to Mononia and said: “Two very valuable stones have been brought to me; I do not know whether they were bought or stolen; but they are asking only five hundred gold coins for them, although they are worth far more.”

The money-loving Mononia fell at Makarios’ feet and begged him to buy these stones for her. The elder said: “Go yourself and see them.” But Mononia, as a nun, refused to do so and handed Makarios five hundred gold coins. He distributed this money to the poor.

After some time passed, since Makarios was held in great respect by all, Mononia was ashamed to ask him directly about the money and waited for a suitable opportunity to speak with him. At last, such an opportunity came.

One day she saw Saint Makarios in church and asked whether he had bought the stones. Makarios replied that he had, and offered to show them to her. Mononia gladly agreed and followed the elder.

He led her to a shelter established with her money for the poor and said: “Which stone would you like to see — the first or the second?”

“As you wish,” she answered.

Then Makarios led her to the section where lame, blind, and paralyzed men were living. “Behold,” he said, pointing to them, “the first stone.”

After that he brought her to the women’s section and, pointing to those being cared for there, said: “Behold the second stone. And now, if you approve of what I have done, let it be so; but if not, take your money back from me.”

The heart of the money-loving woman was deeply pierced. Though she said nothing to the elder, she became so sorrowful that, upon returning home, she lay down in bed and fell gravely ill.

Then the Lord Himself instructed her. A radiant man appeared to her and showed her the places of torment for sinners. Mononia was terrified. Then the one who appeared said to her: “Do not be afraid; from all these torments Saint Makarios has delivered you, having purchased for you those two precious stones which you saw.”

After this, Mononia recovered and became extraordinarily merciful to the poor.

Therefore, blessed Augustine rightly says: “At the gates of Gehenna stands mercy, and it does not allow anyone to be cast into prison” (Homily 39, question 50).

And if even wealth used for the benefit of the poor against one’s will brought down such mercy from God upon the soul of a sinner, then how much more abundantly and generously will the Lord reward those who willingly, out of love for Him, share their wealth with their needy brethren!

Oh truly, “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10).

And listen also to what blessed Augustine says (in the person of the Lord):

“I received earth — I will give heaven; I received the temporal — I will give the eternal; I received bread — I will give bread, but heavenly and eternal; I received lodging — I will give a home; I was sick and was visited — I will give salvation; I was in prison and was visited — I will give freedom.” (From the treatise on luxury and avarice.)

Let us not, therefore, forget beneficence and sharing, remembering that with such sacrifices God is well pleased (Hebrews 13:16). Amen.

Source: Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

 

Notes:

 

* The oldest known Slavonic source for the story of Mononia and Saint Makarios is found in the Slavonic Prologue (Пролог), specifically under March 30. It does not exist in any known Greek or Coptic sources.