Tag: Saint John Chrysostom

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

From the responsorial psalm: “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest in which she puts her young— Your altars, O LORD of hosts, my king and my God! How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 6:39-42)

“Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,’ when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.”

Jesus emphasizes the hypocrisy of judging others while being blind to one’s own shortcomings or flaws. Jesus, the incarnate Word, invites us into self-examination and the call to correct oneself before we find that it is necessary to offer correction to others. In calling people to focus on their own shortcomings, Jesus sets us on a path toward humility and self-awareness. To will the good of the other, as Saint Thomas Aquinas defines love, sometimes means addressing the faults of others. In entering into this, Jesus calls us to himself to treat others mercifully and with an understanding of one’s own humility and weaknesses. Taking all of this into account, Saint John Chrysostom said: “But I am quite certain that you will do this out of the tender love you bear your own members, and that you will make every effort to bring your brothers and sisters back to our common Mother, because I know that through the grace of God you are able to admonish others with wisdom.”

God, in helping others, give me the grace to discern what is at stake and what my role is. Help me see others as you see them, and teach me to be humble and to remember my own faults before I judge them. Lord, help me hear your voice today. Saint John Chrysostom, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, ”Young man, I tell you, arise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

The Gospel passage for today takes place soon after yesterday’s reading, when Jesus healed the slave of a centurion. Jesus drew near the gate of the city as a man who had died was being carried out. A large crowd followed the mother of the young man, and Jesus stepped forward and touched the coffin. Why is it that Jesus touched the open coffin, or bier, and not the man himself? On Jesus’ command, the man sat up at once and began to speak. Then the crowd was overcome by fear and glorified God, exclaiming, “A great prophet has arisen in our midst,” and “God has visited his people.”

God, how is it that Jesus needed only to touch the coffin for the dead man to rise? Help me understand what in some ways seems obvious. Just as you healed the slave of the centurion from a distance, you raise the man from the dead by touching only his coffin. You have in your hands the things that represent death and life and death itself. The function and symbolism of the coffin is shattered, the terror of the crucifix becomes a symbol of salvation and resurrection, and death itself returns to dust while we rise with Christ to new life.

A few simple thoughts: death does not have the last word; the Word incarnate, the risen Christ, has the last word. Life is present always in returning to God, in raising a hand toward him. So good is God that he never tires of me and is ready to have me in his presence whether I am coming or going, aloof on some human mission or desperate for his hand to touch what is dead and be brought to new life. Be with me, Lord; whether I stand in light or in shadow, stay with me today.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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