A story…
On keeping up appearances.
A monk of the Thebaid received from God the grace of ministry, to serve the poor as they had need. In a village once he was holding an agape-feast wherein he distributed alms. A woman dressed in rags came up to him to receive her share. When the monk saw the rags, he determined to give her more than the others, yet his hand was kept nearly closed, and he took only a little.
Another, well-dressed, woman came up and seeing her rich clothing, the monk intended to give this woman a smaller portion. Yet his hand was wide open and he gave her an abundance. Curious, the monk inquired about the two women, and was told the well-dressed woman had been a noble lady reduced to poverty, although she continued to dress well because she believed she had a standard to maintain for her family. On the other hand, the woman in rags had disguised herself to appear poorer than she was in order to receive a greater alms. - Stories from the desert fathers.
