Homily for 23rd Wed, St. John Chrysostom
Fr. Albert
Notre Dame Seminary
Golden Mouthed John is a saint I love to pretend to love. In the Collect, the Church calls him “illustrious” for his “wonderful eloquence.” To be frank, I’ve always kind of wanted to be known for my eloquence too, secretly wishing that someone would compare me to this talented Antiochene from so many centuries ago. And why not? He was clearly passionate about the Truth. He was given to discipline and seriousness. He was known for being… direct when he spoke. John Chrysostom is also delightfully quotable. Here are a few good ones:
“If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”
“There is nothing colder than a Christian who does not seek to save others.”
“The Eucharist is a fire that inflames us, that, like lions breathing fire, we may retire from the altar being made terrible to the devil.”
And one of my favorites is this: “The road to Hell is paved with the skull of priests, and those of bishops are the lamp posts that light the path.” Now that’s the one that should get our attention, given our chosen profession.
Yes, St. John Chrysostom has a golden mouth, but a fiery tongue and it’s something I admire. But it’s too easy to love the end of his name and forget what put the title in front of it. Of all reasons to imitate him, the most important is the fact that he is a saint. That collect didn’t just call him illustrious for his eloquence. No, it clearly says eloquence and his experience of suffering. I’m pretty eager about following his style of preaching and rhetoric, but when it comes to the whole being slandered and exiled thing? Not so much.
And that is the very warning Christ gives us in these beatitudes. In that part of my nature which is earthly – the part that Paul says to put to death – I want to be praised like Chrysostom, doctor of the Church. I want all to speak well of me, but woe unto me for that. And woe unto each of you who share with me that festering fault.
If you or I want to share in the glory that belongs to this saint, then we are going to have imitate not so much his eloquence as his “invincible patience.” If there the road of the damned is looking for our skulls to adorn its surface, then we had better take these beatitudes and woes totally to heart. St. John Chrysostom’s sanctity did not come from his skill with words, but his love of poverty, his eagerness in fasting, and his willingness to mourn loudly for the sins and corruptions that infected his priests and his people. Above all, what makes him a saint – and the greatest hope for any of us to become saints – is the willingness to suffer on account of the Son of Man. And I’m not just talking about suffering from “them” out there in the “corrupt world,” but even from friends, priests, bishops and – I’m sorry to say – sometimes from me.
Not exactly the most encouraging thing to say, I know, but this can be done. It has been done. And when you’re in the midst of the fire that will refine you into gold, remember, blessed are you, for your reward will be great in heaven.
