THEOSISCyrill of Alexandria
The law serves as an instructor in fundamental principles, guiding us toward the elementary truths of God's utterances. It stipulates basic actions in a manner akin to preliminary steps toward a greater understanding, addressing issues such as jealousy over minor possessions. Hence, it instructs: ‘When thou shalt reap in thy field, and shalt forget the sheaf in the field, thou shalt not return to take it; let it remain to the stranger, ..., the orphan, and the widow, that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the works of thy hands. When thou shalt upholster thy olive tree, thou shalt not revise the branches after thee: let it remain to the stranger, the orphan, and the widow....
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When thou takest the fruit of thy vineyard, thou shalt not gather the residue after thee: let it remain for the stranger, the orphan, and the widow: and remember that thou wast a slave in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do these things’ (Deuteronomy 24:19-22). It is beneficial to recall past sufferings and tribulations in times of joy; this remembrance nurtures compassion and ensures that, in times of abundance, one does not forget the struggles of want.