We use our cars and clothing and career credentials to craft images of ourselves we wish to promote and project to others, while keeping much about ourselves carefully hidden from view.
Vainglory: The Forgotten Vice
Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung
Category: AVARICE & ALMSGIVING & MINIMALISM
-
True luxury is having an admirable soul and experiencing a state of pleasure. For example, a person may eat, drink, and engage in revelry, yet if they suffer from cares and loss of spirits, can they truly be considered to be in a state of delight?So, true luxury is found in having a life without sorrows. Let us explore who can attain such a life—whether the rich or those who are not rich. It is not exclusive to either group, but rather to those who order their souls in a way that minimizes grounds for sorrows. Now, where can we find such a life? This pleasure, this true luxury, does not depend on meats, wine, sauces, silk robes, or a sumptuous table. If I can demonstrate that such a life is achievable without relying on these external factors, then welcome this pleasure and this way of life.
First, acknowledge that true luxury is to have no sorrows causing annoyance. Don’t ask for indulgences but recognize that a life without sorrow is the ultimate pleasure. Often, our sorrows arise from miscalculations. Who, then, will have more sorrows? The one who cares for none of these things or the one who cares for them? The one who fears changes or the one who does not fear? The one in dread of jealousy, envy, false accusations, plottings, and destruction or the one who stands aloof from these fears? The one who wants many things or the one who wants nothing? The one enslaved to numerous masters or the one enslaved to none? The one with many needs or the one who is free? The one fearing one lord or the one fearing innumerable despots? Clearly, the greater pleasure lies in the latter.
—St. John Chrysostom
-
Where worldly things are concerned there is ill-will, but where spiritual there is love. Meditate daily on these things, and if two days hence you see someone riding in a chariot, arrayed in raiment of silk and elated with pride, be not again dismayed and troubled. Praise not a rich man, but only him who lives in righteousness. Revile not a poor man, but learn to have an upright and accurate judgment in all things.
Saint John Chrysostom
HOMILY TWO, After Eutropios, having been found outside the church, was taken captive
On the Vanity of Riches -
Do you not know that the present life is a sojourn in a far country? For are you a citizen? Nay you are a wayfarer. Do you understand what I say? You are not a citizen, but you are a wayfarer and a traveler. Say not: I have this city and that. No one has a city. The city is above. The present life is but a journey. We are journeying on every day, while nature is running its course. There are some who store up goods on the way, and some who bury jewelry on the road. Now when you enter an inn do you beautify the inn? No, you eat and drink and hasten to depart. The present lite is an inn: we have entered it, and we bring the present life to a close. Let us be eager to depart with a good hope, let us leave nothing here, that we may not lose it there. When you enter the inn, what do you say to the serv-ant? Take care where you put away our things, that you do not leave anything behind here, that nothing may be lost, not even what is small and trifling, in order that we may carry everything back to our home. You are a wayfarer and traveler, and indeed more insignificant than the wayfarer. How so? I will tell you.
The wayfarer knows when he is going into the inn, and when he is going out; for the coming as well as the going is in his own power. But when I enter the inn, that is to say this present life, I know not when I shall go out. And it may be that I am providing myself storehouses with sustenance for a long time when the Master suddenly summons me saying,
“You fool, for whom shall those things be which you have prepared? For on this very night they are taking your soul from you” (Lk. 12:20). The time of your departure is uncertain, the tenure of your possessions insecure, there are innumerable precipices, and billows on every side of you. Why do you rave about shadows? Why desert the reality and run after shadows?
I say these things, and shall not cease saying them, causing continual pain and dressing the wounds. And this is done not for the sake of the fallen, but of those who are still stand-ing. For they have departed, and their career is ended, but those who are yet standing have gained a more secure position through their calamities. What then, you say, shall we do? Do one thing only, hate riches, and love your life—cast away your goods; I do not say all of them, but cut off the superfluities. Be not covetous of other men’s goods, strip not the widow, plunder not the orphan, seize not his house. I do not address myself to persons but to facts. But if any one’s conscience attacks him, he himself is responsible for it, not my words.
Saint John Chrysostom
HOMILY TWO, After Eutropios, having been found outside the church, was taken captive
On the Vanity of Riches -
Never call the rich man happy; never call any man miserable save him who is living in sin: and call him happy who lives in righteousness. For it is not the nature of their circumstances, but the disposition of the men which makes both the one and the other.
Saint John Chrysostom
HOMILY TWO, After Eutropios, having been found outside the church, was taken captive
On the Vanity of Riches -
The rich are my children, and the poor also are my children. The same womb has travailed with both, both are the offspring of the same travail-pangs. If then you fasten reproaches on the poor man, I denounce you, for the poor man does not suffer so much loss as the rich. For no great wrong is inflicted on the poor man, seeing that in his case the injury is confined to money; but in your case the injury touches the soul. Let him who wills cast me off, let him who wills stone me, let him who wills hate me; for the plots of enemies are the pledges to me of crowns of victory, and the number of my rewards will be as the number of my wounds.
Saint John Chrysostom
HOMILY TWO, After Eutropios, having been found outside the church, was taken captive
On the Vanity of Riches -
He possessed nothing of his own and would have nothing to do with invitations and banquets. He always ate alone, just enough to sustain his sick, emaciated body, and he did not accept invitations because they would involve him in worldly conversations.
The Life of Saint John Chrysostom
On the Vanity of Riches -
Previously, David’s life was different. He was pursued by Saul, escaping from one desert to the other. He lived in caves, fought by himself, and slept on the ground; he did not sin at that time. Later, however, he lived in luxury, in palaces with servants, attendants and slaves. He sent the army to fight, while he stayed in his house on his bed. He stood on the roof and looked at the people. He lacked the desire to be with his fighting army.
—H.H. Pope Shenouda III, The Life of Repentance and Purity
SO GOOD QUOTES 