It is unclear whether his parents were Christian or pagan, but we do know that he was baptized around the age of 18. While studying civil law, he felt the call to enter monastic life, but discerning it wasn’t quite his calling, he was ordained a deacon and then a priest for the Church of Antioch.
The young priest soon garnered a reputation for his eloquent preaching. He was as St. John Henry Newman said, “a bright, cheerful, gentle soul; a sensitive heart,” who helped the people apply the Scriptures to their daily lives. About 600 hundred of his sermons and commentaries on scripture have been preserved, as well as many treatises on the moral and spiritual life, and a very famous book on the priesthood.
Today we continue to read from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, “If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” The saints, like St. John Chrysostom, are marvelous examples of what it means to be heavenly-minded, rather than earthly-minded. And that doesn’t mean we have our heads in the clouds or unconcerned with the sufferings of the poor on earth. Rather, it means that our decisions and choices and words must be weighed by if they help us to attain heaven or not.
St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage says, St. Paul writes these words to help us to “draw them off from pleasure and ease.” In other words, Paul is instructing us that pleasure and ease of life are not what makes a thing or an action good. Just because something is pleasurable or easy doesn’t it make it good for our minds, bodies, or souls. Rather, what is good, is what helps us to attain heaven.
Paul is echoing our Lord’s own teaching in the Gospel: sorrow, hunger, poverty, and being hated by the world can be good, when they help us attain heaven, they can be more profitable than happiness, riches, food, and being popular or accepted by our peers. We are given this earthly life as a test, as a choice: will we pursue only what is temporary, or what is eternal.
May St. John Chrysostom and all the saints help us to attain the true blessedness for which we were made for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
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That the bishops and priests may be men of sound doctrine, and courageously preach the Gospel in its fullness.
That government leaders around the world may carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for freedom and the dignity of human life.
For the grace to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, to love our neighbors and enemies and those who persecute us, and to share the truth of the Gospel with all.
For all those who share in the sufferings of Christ—the sick, the sorrowful, and those who are afflicted or burdened in any way.
For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased clergy and religious of the diocese of Cleveland, for the poor souls in purgatory, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.
O God, who know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.
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