Homily: Twenty-fourth Tuesday of Ordinary Time

Twenty-fourth Tuesday of Ordinary Time (Lk. 7:11-17) “St. John Chrysostom”

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. John Chrysostom (347-407). St. John was one of the four great doctors of the eastern church along with Athanasius, Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen. We could ask him to pray in a special way for the Ukraine as war continues to wage there.

St. John was a great preacher. He had the nick name of “golden throat.” He lived at a very volatile time in the history of the church. He was born in Antioch by his widowed mother (his father had been an army officer), who saw to it that he was well educated in oratory, law, scripture and Theology. He was baptized at 18 and when he was sure his mother would be well cared for, he entered a monastery and became a monk, but the rigorous life threatened his health.

He left the monastery in 381, was ordained a priest and became an assistant to the bishop. He became known as an advocate for the poor of the city. He also acquired a reputation as a great preacher.

In 397 he was appointed the patriarch of Constantinople. He was so well loved in Antioch he had to sneak out of the city. Some say he was lured out of the city.

The church in Constantinople needed reform. St. John plunged into the fray. He disciplined the clergy. He ordered monks back to their monasteries. He told the priests that they could not have concubines. St. John criticized the lavish lifestyle of the poor. All this won him many enemies. His biggest foe was the Empress Eudoxia. She took his criticisms as a personal insult. He called her a Jezebel.

St. John was sent into exile several times. He managed to come back to Constantinople and be reinstated on a couple of occasions. Finally, he ended up fleeing for his life to Pityus which was 600 miles away. He had to walk the whole distance. During the journey he became ill, and he died.

St. John followed in the footsteps of other great prophets and of Jesus himself. He could not remain silent in the face of evil. He was the conscience of his city. He will always be remembered for his courage.

1.     Have I known someone who has spoken the truth at great personal cost? Should they have kept quiet?

2.    Have I ever lost a position because I would not bend on my values? Was it worth it?

 Dear Parishioners,

           Remember that the Religious Education program will be having a Mexican Fiesta after the 4 p.m. Mass this Saturday. This will help kick off the year for religious education. Sunday is Catechetical Sunday. This is a day when we pray for all religious education teachers. Proceeds from the fiesta will go to pay for some extras that will make religious education more special. Special thanks to Debbie Patronagio for organizing this event.

          Please pray for our religious education teachers. They are a dedicated group, and they are very important to our parish life. Please pray for them this weekend.

          May Our Lady of Peace be with the people of Ukraine.

          Fr. Mark