5 What are you? Rich, or poor? Many tell me, I am poor; and they tell the truth. I recognise some poor having something, and some having want. But some have much gold and silver. O that they would acknowledge themselves poor! Poor they will acknowledge themselves, if they acknowledge the poor about them. For how is it? How much soever you have, you rich man whosoever you are, you are God's beggar. The hour of prayer comes, and there I prove you. You make your petition.
How are you not poor, who makest your petition? I say more, You make petition for bread. Will you not have to say, “Give us our daily bread”? Thou, who ask for daily bread, are you poor, or rich? And yet Christ says to you, “Give Me of that which I have given you. For what did you bring here, when you came hither? All things that I created, yourself created hast found here; nothing did you bring, nothing shall you take away. Why will you not give Me of Mine Own? For you are full, and the poor man is empty.
Look at your first origin; naked were ye both born. Thou too then wast born naked. Great store have you found here; did you bring ought with you? I ask for Mine Own; give, and I will repay. You have found Me a bountiful giver, make Me at once your debtor. It is not enough to say, 'You have found Me a bountiful giver, make Me at once your debtor;' let Me regard you as lending upon interest. You give me but little, I will repay more. You give me earthly things, I will repay heavenly. You give me temporal things, I will restore eternal. I will restore you to yourself, when I shall have restored you unto Me.”
Source: Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament (New Advent)