LV. De poenitentia furum.

LV. De poenitentia furum.

The one who has worked to serve greed through theft should not neglect to punish himself with fasting, scourging, and bending his knees, so that he may be freed from the torments of that same vice. The punishment of the one who takes everything for himself is severe. Whoever follows greed in such a way that they take everything they can from others and draw it to themselves, and does not leave even a stone upon another, cruelly scattering the possessions of others, often causes the poor, the needy, and sinners to suffer the worst punishments, as has been said, unless through the grace of God repentance cleanses them. For I examine and observe how each person walks in the way of righteousness, just as David, my servant, inspired by the prophetic spirit, demonstrates when he says: 'The words of David.' God looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there is anyone who understands or seeks God. This should also be understood in this way. He who created all things looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there is anyone wise or seeking God, so that he may discern how they are using the talents entrusted to them; for the divine gaze observes with utmost clarity how they perceive him in the mirror of faith and how they seek him with a pure heart. As long as the soul does good works in the flesh, it understands God through a taste of holiness; and as long as it produces faith toward a good fulfillment along with virtues, it sees God in the mirror of the most faithful purity. Therefore, God sees the deepest intentions of the heart, how one seeks to understand and find Him, and how one neglects and abandons Him, since He rewards each person justly according to their deeds. Greed takes away a person's body. Greed is the worst evil, and it leads many to destruction. For it not only takes away from a person what is outside their body, but it also robs them of their very body. A thief imitates the Devil, because just as the Devil destroys a person's soul by winning them over, so too does the thief take away a person's possessions and can even kill their body. A person who engages in robbery imitates the Devil, because just as the Devil destroys the soul of a person by leading them astray, so too does the robber take away the substance of a man and kills his body. Therefore, one is separated from God, and unless he repents, he will be clothed in the curse of a curse and will be covered by eternal punishment, because he has fully committed his sins.