Qualem et quantum thesaurum in vita sibi homo reconderit, talem et tantum post mortem inveniet
The Law of Sowing and Reaping
The author establishes the spiritual principle that our eternal reward is determined by the quality and nature of our deeds in this life.
Whatever kind of treasure each person stores up in heaven while still alive, and however much of it, that is the kind and the amount he will find after death. As Paul tells the Galatians: Don't be deceived—God isn't mocked. For whatever a person sows, that is also what he will reap. Because whoever sows in his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh; but whoever sows from the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit.1 Let's not grow weary in doing good; for in due time we'll reap, if we don't give up. So then, while we have time, let's do good to everyone, especially to those who belong to the household of the faith. Solomon also says: Whoever sows iniquity will reap trouble. Whoever is inclined toward mercy will be blessed. King, be inclined toward mercy, so that you may deserve to receive grace from God. Sow by giving to the poor in this present age what you yourself will reap with manifold interest in the age to come.2
Casting Bread Upon the Waters
The author provides an allegorical interpretation of the command to give alms, framing it as an investment in the eternal homeland.
Put your bread into the bellies of the hungry, so that you may find it multiplied in the eternal homeland.3 For so Solomon says: Cast your bread upon the waters that pass by, for after many seasons you will find it.✦ But what does it mean to cast bread upon the passing waters, if not to give alms to the poor and needy, and to those who are passing through this world?4 And what does 'After many seasons you will find it' mean, if not that in the future age of recompense you will receive a generous reward for it?5
Read the original Latin
Qualem thesaurum et quantum unusquisque adhuc vivens homo in coelo reconderit, talem et tantum post mortem inveniet. Sic enim Paulus ad Galatas ait: Nolite errare, Deus non irridetur: Quae enim seminaverit homo, haec et metet. Quoniam qui seminat in carne sua, de carne et metet corruptionem: qui autem seminat de spiritu, de spiritu metet vitam aeternam. Bonum autem facientes, non deficiamus; tempore enim suo metemus non deficientes. Ergo dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes, maxime ad domesticos fidei. Salomon quoque ait: Qui seminat iniquitatem, metet mala. Qui pronus est ad misericordiam, benedicetur. Esto, rex, pronus ad misericordiam, ut merearis a Deo accipere gratiam: semina dando pauperibus in praesenti saeculo, quae ipse cum multiplici fenore metiaris in futuro.
Mitte panem tuum in esurientium viscera, ut eum multiplicem invenias in aeterna patria. Sic enim Salomon ait: Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas: quia post tempora multa invenies illum. Quid est autem super transeuntes aquas mittere panem, nisi pauperibus et egentibus, et de hoc saeculo transeuntibus eleemosynam dare? Quid est vero, Post multa tempora invenies illum, nisi in futuro saeculo retributionis ex illo largum accipies praemium?
Scripture echoes
- ↩Eccl.11.1 — Send your bread out upon the waters, for after many days you will find it.
Notes
- 1 ↩Latin has seminat de spiritu (sows from/of the Spirit), not the more common Vulgate-style in spiritu; rendered as 'from the Spirit' to stay with the supplied reading.
- 2 ↩Latin metiaris is formally from metior ('measure'), but the sustained sowing/reaping metaphor and fenore ('interest') make 'reap/harvest back' the intended sense; rendered accordingly.
- 3 ↩viscera is bodily and concrete (inwards/stomachs), not abstract compassion; rendered as 'bellies' to keep the feeding image.
- 4 ↩de hoc saeculo transeuntibus is read as those passing through this present age (sojourners), paralleling transeuntes aquas; less likely as only the dying, though that sense is possible.
- 5 ↩retributionis kept as positive recompense/reward-giving, not punitive retribution, matching largum praemium.
Via Regia (The Royal Road) companion
Rule yourself daily, not just on retreat
Chosen Portion turns the mirror into a daily practice — a short reading and examining question each morning before you lead anyone.
Chosen Portion makes the mirror daily: the ruler-formation questions this collection preserves become a two-minute morning examination in the app.
- A daily formation reading drawn from centuries of counsel to those in authority
- One pointed examination question a day — two minutes, before the meetings start
- Track your practice over weeks and watch the examined life become a habit