After this do we not feel shame, and hide our faces, at seeing that righteous man for twenty years persevering and not desisting; we ourselves after a first or second petition often fainting and indignant? And yet he indeed had in large measure liberty of speech towards God, and all the same he felt no discontent at the delay of the giving, but remained patient, whereas we—laden with countless sins, living with an evil conscience, displaying no good will towards the Master—if we are not heard before having spoken, are bewildered, impatiently recoil, desist from asking. On this account we always retire with empty hands.
Who has for twenty years besought God for one thing, as this righteous man did? Or rather who for twenty months only?
Saint John Chrysostom
On the Power of Prayer and Forgiveness
Homilies on Profitable Subjects
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Consider what privileges you enjoy who have been initiated into the Mysteries, with what company you offer up that mystic hymn, with what company you cry aloud the “Thrice Holy Hymn.” Teach “them that are without” that you have joined the chorus of the Seraphim, that you are ranked as a citizen of the commonwealth above, that you have been enrolled in the choir of angels, that you have conversed with the Lord, that you have been in the company of Christ. If we regulate ourselves in this way we shall not need to say anything when we go out to those who are left behind: but from our advantage they will perceive their own loss and will hasten hither, so as to enjoy the same benefits themselves. For when, merely by the use of their senses, they see the beauty of your soul shining forth, even if they are the most stupid of men, they will become enamored of your goodly appearance. For if corporeal beauty excites those who behold it, much more will symmetry of soul be able to move the spectator and stimulate him to equal zeal. Let us then adorn our inward man, and let us be mindful of the things which are said here when we go out: for there especially is it a proper time to remember them. And just as an athlete displays in the lists the things which he has learned in the training school, even so ought we to display in our transactions in the outside world the things which we have heard here.
Saint John Chrysostom
If Thine Enemy Hunger, Feed Him
Homilies on Profitable Subjects -
Do you not know that if you come and worship God and take part in the work which goes on here, the business you have on hand is made much easier for you? Have you worldly anxieties? Come here on that account that by the time you spend here you may win for yourself the favor of God, and so depart with a sense of security; that you may have Him for your ally, that you may become invincible to the demons because you are assisted by the heavenly hand. If you have the benefit of prayers uttered by the fathers, if you take part in common prayer, if you listen to the divine oracles, if you win for yourself the aid of God, if, armed with these weapons, you then go forth, not even the devil himself will be able henceforth to look you in the face, much less wicked men who are eager to insult and malign you.
But if you go from your house to the market place and are found destitute of these weapons, you will be easily mastered by all who insult you.
This is the reason why both in public and private affairs, many things occur contrary to our expectation, because we have not been diligent about spiritual things in the first place, and secondarily about the secular, but have inverted the order.
For this reason, also the proper sequence and right arrangement of things has been upset, and all our affairs are full of much confusion.
Saint John Chrysostom
If Thine Enemy Hunger, Feed Him
Homilies on Profitable Subjects -
“And what concern is that to us?” you say. The greatest possible concern if you pay no attention to your brethren, if you do not exhort and advise, if you put no constraint on them, and do not forcibly drag them hither and lead them away out of their deep indolence. For that one ought not to be useful to himself alone, but also to many others, Christ declared plainly when He called us salt and leaven and light: for these things are useful and profitable to others.
For a lamp does not shine for itself, but for those who are sitting in darkness: and you are a lamp not that you may enjoy the light by yourself, but that you may bring back yonder man who has gone astray. For what profit is a lamp if it does not give light to him who sits in darkness? And what profit is a Christian when he benefits no one, neither leads anyone back to virtue?
Saint John Chrysostom
If Thine Enemy Hunger, Feed Him
Homilies on Profitable Subjects -
Now if after thirty-eight years he was thus meek and gentle, when all the vigor and strength of his reasoning faculties was broken down, consider what he is likely to have been at the outset of his trouble. For be assured that invalids are not so hard to please at the beginning of their disorder, as they are after a long lapse of time: they become most intractable, most intolerable to all, when the malady is prolonged. But as he, after so many years, was so wise and replied with so much forbearance, it is quite clear that during the previous time also he had been bearing that calamity with much thankfulness.
Saint John Chrysostom
On the Two Paralytics in the Gospels
Homilies on Profitable Subjects -
For as a gold refiner having cast a piece of gold into the furnace allows it to be proved by the fire until such time as he sees it has become purer, even so God permits the souls of men to be tested by troubles until they become pure and transparent and have reaped much profit from this process of sifting: wherefore this is the greatest kind of benefit.
Let us not then be disturbed, neither dismayed, when trials befall us. For if the gold refiner sees how long he ought to leave the piece of gold in the furnace and when he ought to draw it out, and does not allow it to remain in the fire until it is destroyed and burnt up, much more does God understand this, and when He sees that we have become purer, He releases us from our trials so that we may not be overthrown and cast down by the multiplication of our evils. Let us then not be complaining or faint-hearted when some unexpected thing befalls us; but let us allow Him Who knows these things accurately to prove our hearts by fire as long as He pleases: for He does this for a useful purpose and with a view to the profit of those who are tried.
Saint John Chrysostom
On the Two Paralytics in the Gospels
Homilies on Profitable Subjects -
And what was it that I delighted in, but to love, and be loved? but I kept not the measure of love, of mind to mind, friendship’s bright boundary: but out of the muddy concupiscence of the flesh, and the bubblings of youth, mists fumed up which beclouded and overcast my heart, that I could not discern the clear brightness of love from the fog of lustfulness. Both did confusedly boil in me, and hurried my unstayed youth over the precipice of unholy desires, and sunk me in a gulf of flagitiousnesses. Thy wrath had gathered over me, and I knew it not. I was grown deaf by the clanking of the chain of my mortality, the punishment of the pride of my soul, and I strayed further from Thee, and Thou lettest me alone, and I was tossed about, and wasted, and dissipated, and I boiled over in my fornications, and Thou heldest Thy peace, O Thou my tardy joy! Thou then heldest Thy peace, and I wandered further and further from Thee, into more and more fruitless seed-plots of sorrows, with a proud dejectedness, and a restless weariness.
Confessions
St. Augustine
SO GOOD QUOTES 