Wednesday, September 13, 2023

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

(Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 6:20-26)

As forthright as today’s first reading, St. John Chrysostom chastised wasteful luxury and promoted evangelical poverty.  An eloquent preacher, John was named the Patriarch of Constantinople, the most prestigious position of the eastern Church.  From the pulpit of his cathedral, he criticized the empress for extravagance and lack of charity. With his jurisdiction he curtailed the authority of the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine army.  John paid the high price of exile for instituting reform.  He died in a forced march from one place of banishment to another farther away.

John Chrysostom’s reform measure finds easy reference in the New Testament.  Today’s reading from Colossians tells Christians to put behind them “immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.”  In the gospel Jesus laments the rich and the self-satisfied.  By implication, he means that if they do not share their resources, they will suffer downfall.

As much as he reminds us of the pitfalls of material excess, John Chrysostom links us to eastern Christianity.  His story tells us that Christianity is world-wide and that we are not alone when we defend our faith in an increasingly secular world.

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the Church

(Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 6:20-26)

Christians in the West may not know St. John Chrysostom, but within Orthodoxy he is more famous than St. Augustine.  There are similarities between the two.  Neither grew up Christian, and both studied rhetoric as young men.  Both became bishops although Augustine’s diocese was backwater while John’s see was the imperial city of Constantinople.

John was both an eloquent preacher (Chrysostom means golden mouth) and an outspoken social critic.  He had little patience with imperial protocol and openly appealed to the wealthy to assist the needy before adorning a church.  In a famous sermon he said, "Give (Christ) he honor prescribed in his law by giving your riches to the poor. For God does not want golden vessels but golden hearts.”

John Chrysostom actually echoes both readings today.  The Letter to the Colossians admonishes: “’Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.”   In the gospel Jesus is much more emphatic as he tells his disciples: “Blessed are you who are poor…But woe to you who are rich.’” He does not mean to say that the rich are damned only that to find their salvation they must help those in need.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest

(Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 6:20-26)

St. Peter Claver took to heart both readings today.  He saw no difference in black or white, slave or free.  Rather he dedicated himself as a brother to slaves arriving from Africa in Cartagena, Colombia.  He brought blessings to the poor and sorrowful as he bandaged their wounds and lifted their drooping spirits.

Born in Spain, Peter Claver entered the Society of Jesus in 1602.  After completing his studies, he came to the New World as a missionary.  Tutored of the abuse suffered by African slaves, he personally entered the fetid holes of slave ships to treat the trade’s victims.  For forty years he labored under the most miserable of conditions.  Recognized as a saint in his lifetime, he was canonized in 1888.

Peter Claver’s devotion to African slaves discomforts us.  He spent himself helping the most miserable of the poor while we debate about spending the price of a meal to provide relief for refugees. Peter did what Jesus asks of all his followers.  We should less hesitantly respond to the same call.