4 Kingdoms (2 Kings) 24

The church possesses wealth not to hoard, but to utilize when necessary. What purpose does it serve to protect that which is otherwise unhelpful? Are we not aware of the vast amounts of gold and silver that the Assyrians plundered from the Lord's temple? Would it not be wiser for the priests to melt this down for contributions to the needy, rather than allowing the irreverent to seize and profane it? Will not the Lord inquire, ‘Why do you let so many perish from hunger? Indeed, you had gold, and you ought to have given to those in need. Why were so many captured and sold into slavery, and why did so many remain unredeemed, falling into the hands of the enemy to be destroyed? It is far better to safeguard lives than to cling to treasures of gold.’

The primary impetus for compassion derives from our ability to resonate with the hardships faced by our fellow beings, striving to lend assistance whenever possible, even extending beyond our own limits. It is far more noble to endure scorn or animosity for showing mercy than to turn a blind eye to suffering. In a past moment, we faced condemnation for the breaking of holy vessels. The tradition of utilizing ecclesiastical items to liberate captives was recognized (refer to Sozomen: Hist. Eccl. 4:25; Socrates: Hist. Eccl. 7:21). St. Ambrose notably highlights that these vessels were rendered unusable for inappropriate purposes (see below: Off. 2:143) to redeem captives, which may have outraged the Arians. Their opposition was rooted not in the act itself, but rather in the opportunity it provided to cast further aspersions on us. One cannot be so brutal or unfeeling as to disapprove the liberation of individuals from death, or a woman from the vile violence of oppressors, or children from the taint of idolatrous defilement, which they fear far worse than death. Our use of vessels was a decision made with care, as we acknowledged publicly that preserving souls for the Lord takes precedence over retaining gold. The Lord sent His apostles without gold, and gathered His church without it as well. The church possesses gold not for amassing wealth, but to aid those in need. Why hoard what serves no purpose? Are we not aware of how much precious metal the Assyrians extracted from the Lord's Temple? (See 1 Samuel 18:13-16; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10). Regarding Mt. Lawrence (see above: Off. 1:205-207), should it not be more beneficial for the priests to use it for the welfare of the impoverished, if no other relief is available, rather than allowing a sacrilegious adversary to profane and seize it? Would the Lord not question us, saying, "Why did you let so many poor perish while you could have used your gold to sustain them? Why did the captives remain unredeemed and fall victim to their captors? It would have been better had you kept the lives of vessels alive, rather than merely vessels of metal." Answering this may prove challenging. Would one argue, "I feared the temple would lack adornment"? The Lord might reply, "The commandments do not require or seek gold, for they are not purchased with it. The true beauty of worship is found in the liberation of captives." Truly, those vessels are precious which save souls from death. The Lord’s genuine treasure acts similarly to His Blood. Thus, the vessel containing the Lord's Blood is recognized in redemption from the cup that liberates from adversaries those whom it redeems from sin. How magnificent it is to proclaim the lines of captives freed by the Church, saying, "Christ has salvaged them!" Here lies the gold we prize, the gold that is beneficial, the gold of Christ that saves from death, the gold that redeems holiness and maintains purity. I preferred to return them to you unbound rather than hold onto the gold. This host of captives, this chain of souls, is far more stunning than the sight of cups. This is the purpose of the Redeemer's treasure—to save those in peril. I believe that the Blood of Christ, poured into that golden cup, not only stained it crimson but, via the gift of redemption, endowed it with divine potency. This was the gold preserved for the Lord by the holy martyr Lawrence. When the treasures of the Church were demanded, he promised to present them the next day. When queried about the treasures he had mentioned, he pointed to the poor and declared, "These are the treasures of the Church, indeed treasures wherein resides Christ, in whom is faith." The Apostle stated, "We carry this treasure in earthen vessels" (2 Corinthians 4:7). What treasures does Christ cherish more than those in which He desired to be present? For it is written, "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25:35). "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). What could be more precious to Christ than those in whom He delights to be seen? Such were the treasures that Lawrence displayed and secured, as they could not be seized by the persecutor. Similarly, Jehoiachin (see 2 Kings 24:8-15; 2 Chronicles 36:9-10), who hoarded gold amidst a siege and failed to use it for sustenance, learned the hard way that his gold was taken and he himself enslaved. St. Lawrence, who chose to allocate the Church's resources for the poor instead of safeguarding them from the persecutors, received the crown of martyrdom for his exceptional discernment and wisdom. Was it said to St. Lawrence that he should not have expended the Church’s treasures or sold sacred vessels?