Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 105

DIDASCALIA. 77 makes known the name of the giver. And she, whenever she has heard it, grumbles and blames the Bishop who made the provision, or the Elder (S. Deacon) or him that gave the gift, and says, Dost thou not know that I am nearer to thee, and I am much more destitute than she ? She knoweth not that this hath not happened by the will of man, but by the command- ment of God. For if thou testifiest, and sayest, I am nearer to thee, and thou knowest that I am more destitute than she, thou oughtest to know him who has commanded, and be silent, and not blame him who has served ; but go into thy house, and fall on thy face, and thank God on behalf of the widow thy companion, and pray also for the giver, and for the server, and seek from the Lord that the door of compassion may be opened also to thee, and the Lord will hear thy prayer quickly which is without grudge, and will send to thee more compassion than to that widow thy comrade, from whence thou hast never hoped to be served, and the proof of thy patience shall be found (S. praised). Or do ye not know that it is written in the Gospel, " When thou doest alms, do not blow a trumpet before thee Matt. vi. 2 (S. before men), that thou mayest be seen of them, as the hypocrites do. Verily I say unto thee that they have received their reward " ? About the audacity (S. reproof) of cursed Widows. If therefore God command that a service be performed in secret, and he who serves has performed it thus ; thou therefore who hast received in secret, why dost thou proclaim openly? or thou again, why dost thou inquire? for not only dost thou roundly blame, and grumble like a fool f. (S. not a widow), and thou also givest forth curses like the heathen. Or hast thou not heard what the Scripture saith, " Everyone who blesseth shall be £9 ^'ic blessed, and every one who curseth shall be cursed "? Again in the Gospel He said, " Bless them that curse you," and again He said, "When ye go into Luke x 5 an house, say, Peace be to this house. And if the house be worthy of your Matt.x. is peace, it shall come upon it, but if it be not worthy, it shall return to you." If therefore peace return to those that have sent it, more therefore shall Ap. Con. the curse be upon him who hath launched it. For if we (S. they) who have sent it out in vain, because he against whom it was sent was not worthy to receive a curse, everyone who curseth anyone in vain curseth himself; for it is written in the Proverbs, "As the swallows and the birds Prov. fly, thus vain curses return." And again he said, that " those who send ^^ x lg forth curses are void of understanding"; for we are compared to the likeness of the bee, as the Lord said, Go to the bee, and learn from her how Prov. vi. 6 she worketh, that she doeth her work with wisdom, and from her work food 8 is offered to the rich and the poor, for she is graceful and glorious, though