Thoughts for the Day

Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,

'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’

Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me,

‘Do not say, “I am only a boy”;
for you shall go to all to whom I send you,
and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of them,
for I am with you to deliver you,
says the Lord.’

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me,

‘Now I have put my words in your mouth.
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms,
to pluck up and to pull down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

We tend to concentrate on people in the Bible, but we can also learn from those who came later. Today we look at someone who left us a wonderful legacy: John Chrysostom. Born in 347 CE in Antioch, Syria, the name 'Chrysostom' (meaning 'golden mouth') was given to him 150 years after his death. After being baptised aged 23 he became a monk, and for two years lived in a cave - standing continually, scarcely sleeping, and memorizing the entire Bible!

In 381 CE Chrysostom was ordained deacon and 5 years later priested. His preaching gained him the respect of the whole church in Antioch, not least the ordinary people who would push to the front of the church to hear him. He taught about the need to care for the poor saying. "It is foolishness and public madness to fill the cupboards with clothing, and allow men who are created in God’s image and likeness to stand naked and trembling with the cold so that they can hardly hold themselves upright.” By the command of Eutropius, a government official on 26th February, 398 CE, he was taken by military force to Constantinople and consecrated Archbishop. His fame as a preacher continued, but he caused controversy because of his criticism of the wealthy. He continued to live an austere life, using his income to minister to the poor and build hospitals. Because of this he fell out of favour with the Empress Eudoxia who banished him to live out his life in exile under armed guard. He died in 407 CE.

Chrysostom handed down to us more sermons, letters and commentaries than any other Christian preacher or teacher for the first thousand years of Christianity. One of my favourite sayings is: “Act as if every day is a new beginning.” By treating every day as a new beginning, we have the opportunity with God's help to learn, grow, and change for the better.

Collect for John Chrysostom:

God of truth and love,
who gave to your servant John Chrysostom
eloquence to declare your righteousness
in the great congregation,
and courage to bear reproach for the honour of your name:
mercifully grant to those who minister your word
such excellent in preaching,
that all people may share with them
in the glory that shall be revealed;
Amen.