Sep 13 - St John Chrysostom

+ St John Chrysostom was born in 347 in Antioch, Asia Minor. His father died when he was young and he was raised by a very pious mother. Being well educated, John studied rhetoric under Libanius, one of the most famous orators of his day. He became a monk and then later a priest noted for his preaching 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: golden” mouthed. They were always on point, and explained the Scriptures with clarity and they sometimes went on for hours. Reluctantly he was made bishop (and patriarch) of Constantinople in 398, a move that 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 also revised the Greek Liturgy. Because John’s sermons advocated a change in their lives, some nobles and bishops worked to remove him from his diocese and he was twice exiled. He was finally banished to Pyhthius where he died. He is a Greek Father of the Church and considered one of the Three Holy Hierarchs along with Basil the Great and Gregory Nanzianzen. His commentaries on the Bible and his treatise on the priesthood are among his most enduring writings. He died in 407 of natural causes and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1568.

Our first reading today gives us a glimpse into the mind of St. John Chrysostom and his motivation: with St. Paul, John simply did the particular job that he was given to do to build up the Body of Christ (the Church) to full stature. And with the grace of the Holy Spirit he did it well!

And, of course, in the gospel passage, with the parable of the sower and the seed, we see what happened when John sowed the seed of truth and justice and God’s will and God’s ways: it fell on all kinds of ground, and had all kinds of receptions, and brought forth all kinds of reactions and actions: some were against him directly and personally; but John Chrysostom did not cease proclaiming this powerful word and he bore the brunt of self-sacrifice that comes with being configured to Christ the Preacher, Teacher and Victim.

St. John Chrysostom, pray for us today, that we may be unafraid to minister always as you did, with joy!