Do we need those in need?

St. Augustine says, “Let us not, then, spurn our God when he is needy in the poor, so that we in our need may be satisfied by him in his riches. We have needy people, and we are needy ourselves; so let us give, in order to receive. But now, what is it that we do give? And in exchange for this paltry, visible, temporal and earthly whatever it is, what is it that we desire to receive? What eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it come up into the heart of man (1 Cor. 2:9).”¹¹⁴¹

1139 The Short Rules, Answer on question 92.

1140 St. Basil of Caesarea, “I Will Tear Down My Barns” 5 in On Social Justice (PP 38:66).

1141 St. Augustine of Hippo, The Works of St. Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century: Part III— Sermons; Volume VI: Sermons 184–229Z , trans., Edmund Hill, ed., John E. Rotelle (New City Press, 1993) 206.2: p. 107.