Homily – September 13, 2010 – St. John Chrysostom

+ St. John Chrysostom was born in 347 at Antioch. His father died when he was young. He was then raised by a very pious mother. Being well educated the boy studied rhetoric under Libanius one of the most famous orators of his day. He became a monk, a preacher and priest for a dozen years in Syria. While there he developed a stomach ailment that troubled him the rest of his life. It was for his sermons that John earned the title Chrysostom (meaning "golden-mouthed"). They were always on the point, and explained the Scriptures with clarity, and they sometimes went on for hours. He reluctantly became a bishop of Constantinople in 398, which involved him in imperial politics. He criticized the rich for not sharing their wealth, fought to reform the clergy, prevented the sale of ecclesiastical offices, called for fidelity in marriage and encouraged practices of justice and charity. He later became Archbishop and Patriarch of Constantinople. He revised the Greek Liturgy. Because his sermons advocated a change in their lives, some nobles and bishops worked to remove John from his diocese. He was twice exiled and banished to Pythius. He died on the road in 407 of natural causes. He was a Greek Father of the Church and proclaimed Doctor in 451.

As bishop and preacher, John Chrysostom championed what St. Paul was talking about in the first reading: peace-filled unity in the Holy Spirit as the goal of Christian life. There is one Body and one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. While at the same time there is a diversity of roles in building up the body of Christ: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers all having the goal of bringing the Body of Christ to full stature one day! The gospel passage speaks of seed sowing and growth. The seed of the faith was planted in John Chrysostom and it grew magnificently because he surrendered to God's will entirely to become the episcopal plant God had in mind. John planted other seeds – and they grew because his hearers were open to something new being introduced into their lives – a new thing that would lead to their eternal salvation more surely! We thank God that John was faithful to his calling; we ask John's prayers today to keep us faithful to ours – to keep us united in faith, in the bond of peace, and producing a hundredfold of blessings for our world this day!

Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will!