At the Feet of the Fathers—St. John Chrysostom on the Free Medicine of Scripture

At the Feet of the Fathers

Monday, May 29, 2023

St. John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom (c. AD  347 – 14 September 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.

Take Medicine That Costs You Nothing

You cannot get this medicine (Scripture) by paying for it. But whoever shows a sincere purpose and disposition goes on his way with the whole thing.

For this reason, both the rich and poor have the benefit of this healing. Where medicine costs money, the man of means certainly gets the benefit, but the poor man often has to go away without gaining anything. But in this case, since no one can pay money for it, but what is needed is faith and a good purpose, whoever has paid with a ready mind is the one who most reaps the advantage since these are the price for the treatment.

And the rich and poor share the benefit alike—or rather, not alike, but often the poor man walks away with more. How can that be? It is because the rich man, already distracted by many thoughts, with the pride and haughtiness that come with wealth, living with carelessness and laziness as his companions, receives the medicine of hearing the Scriptures with little attention or earnestness. But the poor man, who has nothing to do with the delicate living and gluttony and indolence, and who spends all his time in physical work and honest labor, gathers much love of wisdom for his soul from this experience and is likely to pay attention more carefully to everything that is said. So, since he has paid a higher price, he walks away with a greater benefit.

-St. John Chrysostom, Homily Against Publishing the Errors of the Brethren, 1