Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 12:18

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

But in this he errs, that he thinks those things good which are indifferent. For there are some things good, some evil, some between the two. The good are chastity, and humility, and the like, which when a man chooses he becomes good. But opposed to these are the evil, which when a man chooses he becomes bad; and there are the neutral, as riches, which at one time indeed are directed to good, as to almsgiving, at other times to evil, as to covetousness. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Basil of Caesarea

But if thou confessest that those things have come to thee from God, is God then unjust in distributing to us unequally. Why dost thou abound while another begs? unless that thou shouldest gain the rewards of a good stewardship, and be honoured with the meed of patience. Art not thou then a robber, for counting as thine own what thou hast received to distribute? …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

Observe also in another respect the folly of his words, when he says, I will gather all my fruits, as if he thought that he had not obtained them from God, but that they were the fruits of his own labours. The rich man then builds barns which last not, but decay, and what is still more foolish, reckons for himself upon a long life; for it follows, And I will say unto my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. But, O rich man, thou hast indeed fruits in thy barns, but as for many years whence canst thou obtain them?

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Western Saints

Bonaventure

And the reason for this is that he is compelled to deliberate, and therefore he adds: And he said: This I will do: I will pull down my barns and build greater ones, and there I will gather all my crops and my goods. The Gloss: "Behold, great anxiety from avarice," because there is anxiety about destroying what has been made and building anew. …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 12 ↗