Will Good Works Be Taken Away?

We were deeply moved by this, and replied: What, then? Will the effort of fasting, diligence in reading, and works of mercy, justice, piety and kindness be taken away from us, and not remain with those who do them? Especially since the Lord himself promises the reward of the kingdom of heaven to these works, when he says: “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink,” and the rest. How, then, will these works be taken away, which admit those who do them into the kingdom of heaven? [a]