Here you will find a compilation of the texts of St. John Chrysostom cited or mentioned in the book Paths of Love.
Selfless of charity takes priority over the desire to have God.
- He
means: on this account I am weary, and if I were to be separated from
the company about Christ, and to be alienated, not from the love of
him—that be far from him, since even all of this he was doing out
of love—but from all that enjoyment and glory, I would accept it,
provided my Master were not to be blasphemed... I would gladly lose
even the kingdom and that unutterable glory, and undergo all necessary
sufferings, as considering it the greatest consolation of all, no
longer to hear him whom I so long for, so blasphemed.
...
“For I could wish that I myself were accursed.” What does
the “I myself” mean? It means I who have been a teacher of
all, who have gathered together countless good deeds, who am waiting
for countless crowns, who desired him so much, as to value his love
above all things, who all my days am burning for him, and hold all
things of second importance to the love of him. For even being loved by
Christ was not the only thing he cared for, but loving him exceedingly
also. And this last he cared most for (Homily 16 on the Epistle to the
Romans, PG 60, 551–52).
The evangelical Counsels (poverty, chastity, and obedience) are proposed to man's free will
- Concerning
those who preserve virginity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, he
utters these words, "Let him who can receive it, receive it," spurring
them on greatly, in that he shows it to be a eminent and grand thing,
nor does he include it in the necessity of law, on account of his
ineffable gentleness. And he said this, most of all showing it to be
possible, so that thereby a greater desire for it would grow in the
will.
- But if it is of the will, you will say, how does he say
at the beginning, “All men do not receive it, but they to whom it
is given?” That you may learn that the conflict is great, not
that you should imagine any compulsory allotments. For it is given to
those who will it. But he spoke in this way to show that much influence
from above is needed by him who enters this battle, and of this
influence he who wills it shall surely partake. For it is customary for
him to speak in this manner when the good work done is great, as when
he says, “To you it is given to know the mysteries.” And it
is evident from the present passage that this is true. For if it were
only a gift from above, and those who cherish virginity contributed
nothing of theirs, it would have been pointless to promise them the
kingdom of heaven, nor would he have rightly distinguished them from
other eunuchs. (Homilies on Matthew, hom. 62; PG 58:600).
- "If
you wish to be perfect, go sell all that you have, and give it to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." See
how many prizes, how many crowns he grants to this race? If the man had
been testing him, he would not have said these things to him. But now
he says them, and in order to draw him, shows him the great reward, and
leaves it all up to his will, leaving under a certain shadow those
things which seemed heavy in the advice; and therefore, before he spoke
of the battle and labor, he showed the prize, saying, "If you wish to
be perfect," and then added, "sell all that you have, and give to the
poor," and immediately told the reward, "and you will have treasure in
heaven, and come, follow me." For even to follow him is a great reward.
(Homilies on Matthew, hom. 63; PG 58:605).
Virginity is better than marriage
- Even
if marriage had no troubles, it would still be necessary to press
forward toward the things yet to come. But since marriage has
afflictions, why should one burden oneself with it? What need is there
to take such a weight? Even after you take it you have to use it as
though not having it, since he [St. Paul] says, “Let those who
have wives live as though they had none.” (Homily 19 on 1
Corinthians, PG 61, 159)
But a well lived marriage is very good
- Some
wise man in the list of blessings sets many things, and also sets this
in the list of blessing: “And a wife,” he says, “in
harmony with her husband.” And again elsewhere he puts this among
the blessings, “the wife being in agreement with her
husband.” And from the beginning God appears to have made
providence for this union, and has spoken of the two as one... There is
no relationship between men as great as that of a wife to her husband,
if they are coupled as they ought to be... Indeed the household is a
little Church. Thus by becoming good husbands and wives, it is possible
to surpass all others. (Homily 20 on Ephesians, PG 62, 135 & 143)
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