Known as the “Golden Mouth” for the eloquence of his sermons, Chrysostom was born in Antioch and raised by his mother, who at twenty had become a widow. He became a monk and later was appointed deacon (381) and priest (386) in Antioch. His reputation as a preacher increased, and in 398, Chrysostom was appointed, against his will, to be bishop of Constantinople.
His sermons led the city through many crises, but his enemies eventually convinced the emperor to exile him on three occasions, and he died in exile. Chrysostom’s sermons and commentaries on the Bible have led many to consider him the second greatest church father after Augustine.1 St Chrysostom writes the following.
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God requires two things from us: to condemn ourselves for our sins and to forgive others. The former is for the sake of the latter [Matt. 6:14]. For those who consider their own sins are more lenient toward their fellow-servants. It’s easier, then, to forgive from the heart and not merely with the lips.
Therefore, don’t thrust the sword into yourself by being revengeful. For how does the grief you have been afflicted with compare to the ones you will face by remaining angry and bringing on God’s condemnation? If you are careful, and keep yourself under control, the evil will come upon the head of your afflictors. They will suffer harm. But if you continue to be indignant and displeased, then you will suffer harm from yourself. . . .
See how much you gain by meekly bearing the spite of your enemies. First and greatest, you gain deliverance from sins. Secondly, strength and patience. Thirdly, gentleness and goodness. For those who don’t know how to be angry with their afflictors that grieve them will be much readier to serve those that love them. Fourthly, you will always be free from anger.
Nothing can equal this. For those who are free from anger are clearly delivered from discouragement too. They won’t spend their lives on useless burdens and sorrows. . . . They will enjoy pleasure and ten thousand blessings.2
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1 Day by Day with the Early Church Fathers, eds. Christopher D. Hudson, J. Alan Sharrer, and Lindsay Vanker (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2000), 375.
2 Ibid., 182.
Filed under: SATURDAY DEVOTION Tagged: FORGIVENESS, FORGIVING OTHERS, ST. CHRYSOSTOM 
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