Bellarmine on Psalm 125 : Verses 7-8 and conclusion

Verses 7 & 8

Going they went and wept, casting their seeds. But coming they shall come with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves.

Euntes ibant et flebant, mittentes semina sua. Venientes autem venient cum exsultatione, portantes manipulos suos.

He now describes a little more fully and clearly the process of sowing and reaping. “Going,” he says, “they went,” that is, leaving their house the peasants went to the field, “and wept, casting their seeds,” with sorrow they cast their grains of wheat onto the earth, seeing that these seeds acquired with much effort were now for a time being taken away from them. But afterwards, “ coming” from the field at harvest time, “they shall come” home “with joyfulness, carrying their sheaves,” that is, carrying back whole sheaves of wheat in exchange for the few grains (they sowed). The prophet did not spell out the application of the similitude because it was easy for everyone to follow. The Apostle uses this same similitude in II Cor. ix: “ He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly.”[1] This is an admirable similitude and hence it will not be without fruit to consider in what things seed may be compared to alms-giving, so that those who in their hearts he hath disposed to ascend by steps[2] may be encouraged to share freely with the poor. Firstly, the seed that is sown is small and yet produces such a great multitude of grains as to seem incredible : and so too alms-giving of itself seems to be a small matter, as being merely human and of limited duration, and effected through a corruptible human body, and yet it produces not great quantities of money, food or clothing but a kingdom 

which lasts for ever : just as if a grain of wheat sown on the earth were to produce not an ear of wheat but of solid gold, studded with precious gems instead of grains. Hence, the grain sown must die and be lost, otherwise it will not spring up, as the Gospel says: “Unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remaineth alone:”[3] thus alms should be given and not exchanged, and given to those who cannot pay back; finally, an alms should be given so as to be gone and (effectively) lost, with no hope of recovery in this  life : for, lost and fallen into corruption in this way, it will spring up again, producing much fruit in life everlasting. Finally, a seed that has been sown needs sun and rain so that it can germinate : so too alms, along with all other good works, need the sun of divine grace and the showers of the mediator’s blood, that is, if they are to earn merit, they need to spring from the grace of God, which is born from Christ’s blood : and so the smallest of things can become the greatest by reason of the virtue derived from grace; in this way, they become not only meritorious de congruo (as a favour) but also de condigno (as a right), as the Scholastics say, and deserving of life everlasting.[4] But there is a difference between the sowing of seeds and the giving of alms when rightly carried out, to wit, there are many things that can happen so that the man who sows in tears will not reap in joy: for it is possible that the seed sown lacks rain and does not spring up; or after shooting, it may be eaten by locusts or swarms of pests; or, once grown, it may be taken by thieves, or destroyed by fire. But alms-giving done from charity is safe, in fact it is held safe in heaven, where neither locusts nor swarms of pests, nor thieves can come near. Accordingly, there is no doubting that he who sows spiritual seed in tears will reap fruit in great joy.

 

[1] Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly: and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap blessings. Hoc autem dico : qui parce seminat, parce et metet : et qui seminat in benedictionibus, de benedictionibus et metet. [I Cor. 6]

[2] Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: in his heart he hath disposed to ascend by steps. Beatus vir cujus est auxilium abs te, ascensiones in corde suo disposuit. [Ps. LXXXV 6]

[3] Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die. Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal.Amen, amen dico vobis, nisi granum frumenti cadens in terram, mortuum fuerit, ipsum solum manet : si autem mortuum fuerit, multum fructum affert. Qui amat animam suam, perdet eam; et qui odit animam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam aeternam custodit eam. [John xii 24-5]

[4] The essential difference between meritum de condigno and meritum de congruo is based on the fact that, besides those works which claim a remuneration under pain of violating strict justice (as in contracts between employer and employee, in buying and selling, etc.), there are also other meritorious works which at most are entitled to reward or honour for reasons of equity (ex œquitate) or mere distributive justice (ex iustitia distributiva), as in the case of gratuities and military decorations. See Merit in Catholic Encyclopedia. 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.