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St. Joseph Marello - 1890

O you rich, it is in the Church that you hear the terrible
words of Jesus Christ: how difficult it is for the rich to enter the
Kingdom of God! (Mk. 10: 23). Why? Is it wrong to be rich?
Of course not, if the possession of wealth is legitimate: it is
wrong to attach your heart to it. Now, too often, alas, wealth
attracts man's heart. But listen to the same divine words: Blessed
are the merciful (Mt. 5:7), and learn from Jesus that the way to
render your wealth harmless and to make it work for your
salvation is to give your surplus to the poor (Lk. 11: 41). Then,
in the sight of God, you will better understand the great law of
charity, that charity which unites us all in Him and impels us all
to work for each other's good, every possible good; which
renders this good precious giving it the same value as if it had
been done to God himself. Oh! On the day of judgment, will not
the Divine Judge repeat that the smallest favor done to the least
of his brothers (and that is the name he delights in calling each
of the humble, the troubled, and the derelict of this earth) He
will consider as done to himself? Amen dico vobis, quamdiu
fecistis uni ex his fratribus meis minimis mihi fecistis" (Mt. 25:
40). Therefore, o rich, learn to assure yourselves a judgment of
mercy and the eternal goods of heaven by directing your earthly
riches to the ends for which you have received them from God.
And you, O Poor, you cannot forget that, in God's house,
Jesus calls you blessed, and assures you the Kingdom of Heaven
as a reward for you resignation, you spirit of sacrifice here on
earth. "Beati pauperes quia vestrum est regnum Dei (Lk. 6: 20).
Remember that Jesus wished to ennoble your humble condition
by becoming poor himself. You have only a miserable hut: He
was born in a stable, He had nowhere to lay his head (Lk. 9: 58).
Your labors are heavy, but He was known as the carpenter's son
and worked in a shop. You are despised: He bore calumnies,
insults, disgrace and even death to assure your eternal happiness.
Be comforted by these holy thoughts and remove from your
heart every regret, every feeling of envy; even thank the Lord

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