At the Feet of the Fathers: St. John Chrysostom on the Real Power of Wealth

At the Feet of the Fathers

Monday, October 16, 2023

St. John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom (c. AD  347 – September 14 AD 407) was an important early Church father who served as archbishop of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul, Turkey). He is known for his preaching, public speaking, his stand against abuses both among secular authorities and in the church, and his Divine Liturgy, used to this day in Eastern Orthodoxy. The name Chrysostom means "golden-mouthed" in Greek and was given to him for his celebrated eloquence. Chrysostom was one of the most prolific authors in the early Christian Church.

See the Real Power of Wealth

Preaching on the Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31):

Dear friends, do not carelessly pass by the words “and was buried.” but let us think of the tables inlaid with silver, the couches, the wardrobe, and the ornaments throughout the house, the oils, the perfumes, the abundance of wine, the variety of meats, the confections, the cooks, the flatterers, the attendants, the household slaves, and all the rest of the display, all burnt up and come to nothing. All is ashes, all cinders and dust, lamentations and mourning; no one any longer able to help him, or to bring back the departing soul.

Then was made manifest the real power of gold, and of all the rest of his wealth. From all that crowd of attendants, he departed naked and alone, not being able out of all that abundance to carry anything away; but he went away destitute and deserted. No one of all his servants, no one of his supporters was at hand to rescue him from punishment, but led away from all these, he is alone taken to bear those insupportable penalties.

St. John Chrysostom, Four Discourses, 2.3