[markomalley]

St John Chrysostom is well known for his teachings on following Christ without compromise. Typifying his writings are the Four Discourses, chiefly on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (link to e-book on Web Archive).

He, along with other Church Fathers…and, if you think about it, Christ Himself…were very emphatic about the dangers posed by excessive wealth. (Consider, for but one example out of many, Matthew 19:21-30).

However, and please consider this before commenting, the very concept of government social programs was not a player in 4th Century Rome. Consider this little ditty, also from St John Chrysostom:

Should we look to kings and princes to put right the inequalities between rich and poor? Should we require soldiers to come and seize the rich person's gold and distribute it among his destitute neighbors? Should we beg the emperor to impose a tax on the rich so great that it reduces them to the level of the poor and then to share the proceeds of that tax among everyone? Equality imposed by force would achieve nothing, and do much harm. Those who combined both cruel hearts and sharp minds would soon find ways of making themselves rich again. Worse still, the rich whose gold was taken away would feel bitter and resentful; while the poor who received the gold form the hands of soldiers would feel no gratitude, because no generosity would have prompted the gift. Far from bringing moral benefit to society, it would actually do moral harm. Material justice cannot be accomplished by compulsion, a change of heart will not follow. The only way to achieve true justice is to change people's hearts first - and then they will joyfully share their wealth.

[markomalley]

Msgr Pope ping.

[Tax-chick]

The only way to achieve true justice is to change people's hearts first - and then they will joyfully share their wealth.

It's no surprise that the Fathers knew this from the beginning.

As to Msgr. Pope's comments, in this case they fall rather flat for me. The fact that he doesn't have a spouse and children shows, imo. You can leave "things" behind, but not the people for whom you're responsible.

[NYer]

Ping!

[annalex]

Easter Homily

by St. John Chrysostom

Let all pious men and all lovers of God rejoice in the splendor of this feast; let the wise servants blissfully enter into the joy of their Lord; let those who have borne the burden of Lent now receive their pay, and those who have toiled since the first hour, let them now receive their due reward; let any who came after the third hour be grateful to join in the feast, and those who may have come after the sixth, let them not be afraid of being too late; for the Lord is gracious and He receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him who comes on the eleventh hour as well as to him who has toiled since the first: yes, He has pity on the last and He serves the first; He rewards the one and praises the effort.

Come you all: enter into the joy of your Lord. You the first and you the last, receive alike your reward; you rich and you poor, dance together; you sober and you weaklings, celebrate the day; you who have kept the fast and you who have not, rejoice today. The table is richly loaded: enjoy its royal banquet. The calf is a fatted one: let no one go away hungry. All of you enjoy the banquet of faith; all of you receive the riches of his goodness. Let no one grieve over his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed; let no one weep over his sins, for pardon has shone from the grave; let no one fear death, for the death of our Saviour has set us free: He has destroyed it by enduring it, He has despoiled Hades by going down into its kingdom, He has angered it by allowing it to taste of his flesh.

When Isaias foresaw all this, he cried out: "O Hades, you have been angered by encountering Him in the nether world." Hades is angered because frustrated, it is angered because it has been mocked, it is angered because it has been destroyed, it is angered because it has been reduced to naught, it is angered because it is now captive. It seized a body, and, lo! it encountered heaven; it seized the visible, and was overcome by the invisible.

O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? Christ is risen and you are abolished. Christ is risen and the demons are cast down. Christ is risen and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen and life is freed. Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead: for Christ, being risen from the dead, has become the Leader and Reviver of those who had fallen asleep. To Him be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen.

[IronJack]

Or, as Kris Kristofferson said, “freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose.”

[Biggirl]

Not surprised by this writing. As we go into the season of quiet, of summer vacations, pilgrimages, retreats, day treats, etc., and of much more free time to reflect, Msgr. Pope goes into the reflections of the saints.