12 Now what is it, Brethren, “to cry out” unto Christ, but to correspond to the grace of Christ by good works? This I say, Brethren, lest haply we cry aloud with our voices, and in our lives be dumb. Who is he that cries out to Christ, that his inward blindness may be driven away by Christ as He is “passing by,” that is, as He is dispensing to us those temporal sacraments, whereby we are instructed to receive the things which are eternal? Who is he that cries out unto Christ?
Whoso despises the world, cries out unto Christ. Whoso despises the pleasures of the world, cries out unto Christ. Whoso says not with his tongue, but with his life, “The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world,” cries out unto Christ. Whoso “disperses abroad and gives to the poor, that his righteousness may endure for ever,” cries out unto Christ. For let him that hears, and is not deaf to the sound, “sell that you have, and give to the poor; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that fails not;” let him as he hears the sound as it were of Christ's footsteps “passing by,” cry out in response to this in his blindness, that is, let him do these things.
Let his voice be in his actions. Let him begin to despise the world, to distribute to the poor his goods, to esteem as nothing worth what other men love, let him disregard injuries, not seek to be avenged, let him give his “cheek to the smiter,” let him pray for his enemies; if any “one have taken away his goods,” let “him not ask for them again;” if he “have taken anything from any man, let him restore fourfold.”
Source: Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (New Advent)