By Hermas
As I was walking in the field, and
observing an elm and vine, and determining in my own mind to admire them and
their fruits, the Shepherd appears to me, and says, "What is it that you
are thinking about the elm and vine?" "I am considering," I
reply, "that they complement each other exceedingly well."
"These two trees," he continues, "are intended as an example for
the servants of God." "I would like to know," said I, "the
example which these trees you say, are intended to teach." "Do you
see," he says, "the elm and the vine?" "I see them
sir," I replied. "This vine," he continued, "produces
fruit, and the elm is an unfruitful tree; but unless the vine be trained to
climb up upon the elm, it cannot bear much fruit when extended at length upon
the ground; and the fruit which it does bear is rotten, because the plant is
not suspended upon the elm. When, therefore, the vine is grown upon the elm, it
yields fruit both from itself and from the elm. You see, moreover, that the elm
also produces much fruit, not less than the vine, but even more; because,"
he continued, "the vine, when suspended upon the elm, yields much fruit,
and good; but when thrown upon the ground, what it produces is small and
rotten.
This similitude, therefore, is for
the servants of God – for the poor man and for the rich." "How so,
sir?" said I; "explain the matter to me." "Listen," he
said: "The rich man has much wealth, but is poor in matters relating to
the Lord, because he is distracted about his riches; and he offers very few
confessions and intercessions to the Lord, and those which he does offer are small
and weak, and have no power in heaven. But when the rich man refreshes the
poor, and assists him in his necessities, believing that what he does to the
poor man will be able to find its reward with God – because the poor man is
rich in intercession and confession, and his intercession has great power with
God – then the rich man helps the poor in all things without hesitation; and
the poor man, being helped by the rich, intercedes for him, giving thanks to
God for him who bestows gifts upon him. And he still continues to interest
himself zealously for the poor man, that his wants may be constantly supplied.
For he knows that the intercession of the poor man is acceptable and
influential with God. Both, accordingly, accomplish their work. The poor man
makes intercession; a work in which he is rich, which he received from the
Lord, and with which he recompenses the master who helps him. And the rich man,
in like manner, unhesitatingly bestows upon the poor man the riches which he
received from the Lord. And this is a great work, and acceptable before God,
because he understands the object of his wealth, and has given to the poor of
the gifts of the Lord, and rightly discharged his service to Him. Among men,
however, the elm appears not to produce fruit, and they do not know nor
understand that if a drought come, the elm, which contains water, nourishes the
vine; and the vine, having an unfailing supply of water, yields double fruit
both for itself and for the elm. So also poor men interceding with the Lord on
behalf of the rich, increase their riches; and the rich, again, aiding the poor
in their necessities, satisfy their souls. Both, therefore, are partners in the
righteous work. He who does these things shall not be deserted by God, but
shall be enrolled in the books of the living. Blessed are they who have riches,
and who understand that they are from the Lord. For they who are of that mind
will be able to do some good." (The Second Similitude)
A second century author; Hermas is
known only through the autobiographical details given in his work titled “The
Shepherd”. A Christian slave who was
given his freedom, he became a wealthy merchant, lost his property, and did
penance for past sins.
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