Section 17

“Therefore, children, let us not lose heart. Let us not think the time is long or that we are accomplishing something great, for ‘the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed toward us.’

“Nor, when we look at the world, should we imagine that we have renounced anything of great value. The whole earth is very small in comparison with all of heaven. Even if we happened to possess the entire earth and renounced it all, what we gave up would still be nothing compared with the kingdom of heaven. It is as though someone despised one copper drachma in order to gain a hundred drachmas of gold. In the same way, if someone owned the whole earth and renounced it, he would give up little and receive a hundredfold.

“If the whole earth is not equal in value to heaven, then anyone who gives up a few fields is leaving practically nothing. Even if he gives up a house or a great deal of gold, he should neither boast nor become discouraged.

“We should also consider that, even if we do not leave these possessions for the sake of virtue, we will still leave them behind when we die—and often, as Ecclesiastes says, to people to whom we would not wish to leave them. Why, then, should we not give them up for virtue’s sake so that we may inherit a kingdom?

“Let no one therefore be seized by the desire to possess. What benefit is there in acquiring things we cannot take with us? Why not instead acquire the things we can carry away with us: prudence, justice, self-control, courage, understanding, love, care for the poor, faith in Christ, freedom from anger, and hospitality? If we possess these things, we shall find that they themselves prepare a welcome for us there in the land of the meek.