The worm of wealth
March 26, 2011, 1:38 pm
Posted by Joseph A. Komonchak
Today this was read: “Charge the rich of this world.” Charge what? Charge them “not to be proud-minded” (1 Tim 6:17) There is nothing that riches generate so much as pride. Every fruit, every grain, every kernel, every tree has its own worm; and the worm of the apple, the worm of the pear, the worm of the bean, the worm of the wheat all differ from one another. The worm of wealth is pride. (Augustine Sermon 61, 10; PL 38, 412-13)
Wagging a finger at the rich and telling them to be humbler is yet another way to avoid politics. Augustine did the same thing with slavery: the institution is a form of God’s punishment of sin, but masters, you really should be nicer. Oh, and humbler, too.
Another bitter fruit of excessive wealth is envy, from those with less.
Ah yes, Augustine is famous for having avoided politics. “City of God” anyone?