Memorial of Saint
John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church
(I Timothy 1:1-2.12-14; Luke 6:39-42)
Pope Francis has raised eyebrows by moving out of the
papal apartments and telling well-wishers that it would be better for them to give
money to the poor than to spend it on a trip to Rome. This is the spirit of St. John Chrysostom
whom the Church remembers today. As Patriarch
of Constantinople, then the capital of the Roman Empire, John brought on the
wrath of the wealth by refusing to host lavish parties and by accusing the empress
of lavishness.
John Chrysostom could justly criticize the aristocracy of
Constantinople because he was a faithful disciple of Jesus. As Jesus says in today’s gospel, when a
disciple is fully trained, he will become like the master. Just as Jesus often chastised the powerful
for their neglect of charity so John Chrysostom had little patience for spendthrift
Christians.
Pope Francis is calling the Church to a deeper sensitivity
toward the poor and war-weary. No doubt,
he realizes that the complexities of poverty and of warfare are daunting;
nevertheless, he wants Christians to exhibit more urgency in dealing with them. In other words, he wants us to become true
disciples of Jesus.
