********************************************************************************
From: Proverbs 30:5-9
The Words of Agur
---------------------------
[5] Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. [6] Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you, and you he found a liar.
[7] Two things I ask of thee; deny them not to me before I die: [8] Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, [9] lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, "Who is the Lord?" or lest I be poor, and steal, and profane the name of my God.
*************************************************************
Commentary:
30:1-14. "The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa" is translated in the Vulgate as "The words of Gatherer the son of Vomiter", a reference, seemingly, to Solomon. St Bede comments: "Immediately afterwards come some words of Solomon, spoken by him in a different way. Perhaps because it is called 'Ecclesiastes' in Greek, the name in Latin is 'He who gathers together''' (In proverbial Salomonis, 30, 1). Verses 2-6 are reminiscent of the style and theme of the book of Job (cf. Job 17:6; 24:25), and after them comes a prayer (vv. 7-9) and some counsels (vv. 10-14) [...]
30:8-9. "Feed me with the bread that is needful to me'' (v. 8). To have the necessary space to develop a relationship with God and cope with the ordinary affairs of life, a person needs a basic level of subsistence. Lack of the necessaries of life, and having too much of the good things -- both situations are an obstacle to serving God and other people (cf. v. 9). Our Lord taught us to ask in the Our Father, "Give us this day our daily bread'' (cf. Mt 6:11; Lk 11:3). The Roman Catechism sees these words as including ''the idea of a frugal and temperate life, for we should seek only what is needed to meet our natural requirements and not demand many, rich delicacies, […] In the same way, it says 'daily bread', for we eat it to recover our strength and the energy that we use up every day. […] We should often ask to be constant in our love and adoration of God, and to he wholly convinced of the truth that our life and health depends on God'' (4, 13, 13). The opposite would be the attitude of the rich person who draws comfort from the fact that he has wealth, yet it prevents him from seeking God and being concerned about his neighbour. This teaching can he seen, too, in the parable of Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16:19-31).
Pray for us, Padre Pio.