Handout #83

John Chrysostom (354-407 A.D.)

Many things Christ leaves to be done by ordinary human wisdom that we may learn that his disciples were human, that it was not all everywhere to be done by grace: for otherwise they would have been mere motionless logs: but in many things they managed matters themselves. This is not less than martyrdom - to shrink from no suffering for the sake of the salvation of the many.

Nothing is more frigid than a Christian who does not care for the salvation of others. You cannot plead poverty, for she who cast down the two mites will be your accuser. And Peter said, 'Silver and gold have I none.' And Paul was so poor that he was often hungry and lacked necessary food. You cannot plead lowness of birth; for they too were ignoble men and of ignoble parents. You cannot allege lack of education, for they too were unlearned men. So even if you are a slave, indeed a runaway slave, you can play your part, for such was Onesimus: yet see to what Paul calls him, and to what great honor he advances him: 'that he may communicate with me, he says, 'in my bonds'. 'You cannot plead infirmity for such was Timothy, having often infirmities: 'For, 'says the apostle, 'use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. 'Everyone can profit his nature if he will fulfill his part ... Those who are solely concerned with their own interests are useless ... Such too were those virgins, chaste indeed, and decent, and modest, but profitable to none. That is why they are burned. Such are those who are not nourished by Christ. For observe that none of those are charged with particular sins of their own, with fornication, for instance, or with perjury; in short with no sin but having been of no use to another. Such was he who buried his talent, showing indeed a blameless life, but not being useful to another. John Chrysostom Twentieth Homily on Acts.

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