On the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a scripture passage from the second letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (7:2-16) entitled "Paul is encouraged by the repentance of the Corinthians". Our treasure, which follows, is from a homily on the second letter to the Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop.
Saint John Chrysostom was an important, fourth century, Early Church Father who served as Archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, and for his denunciation of abuse of authority of both ecclesiastical and political leaders. He was among the most prolific authors in the early Christian church. The word 'Chrysostom' means 'golden-mounted'. This name was given to him after he died because all his sermons were eloquent and lovely to hear.
Saint John Chrysostom's homilies on the Second Letter to the Corinthians offer insightful commentary on Paul's letter to the Corinthians, focusing on themes of love, grace, and reconciliation. He emphasizes the importance of humility, forgiveness, and mutual support within the Christian community, drawing from the text to encourage believers to live lives that reflect God's love.
Saint John Chrysostom highlights Paul's emphasis on love as the driving force behind Christian action, urging believers to be reconciled to God and to one another. He explores the concept of God's love being manifested through Christ's sacrifice and the subsequent reconciliation of humanity to God. He emphasizes the need for humility and reliance on God's grace rather than human strength. He uses examples from the text to show how God's power is made perfect in weakness and how believers should not trust in their own merits but in God's mercy.
The homilies address the Corinthians' repentance and the subsequent joy of Paul and Titus. Saint John Chrysostom connects their sorrow to repentance and emphasizes the importance of forgiving wrongs and moving forward with love and grace. He interprets Paul's words to mean that believers should no longer live for themselves but for Christ, who died and rose again for them. This involves a transformation of the believer into a "new creature" in Christ. He connects the theological concepts to practical living, encouraging believers to practice humility, forgiveness, and generosity through acts of charity and prayer. He also emphasizes the importance of persevering in faith even during trials and tribulations.
Saint John Chrysostom was known for his eloquent and persuasive preaching style. His homilies on 2 Corinthians demonstrate his ability to convey complex theological ideas in a clear and accessible manner. His homilies often address the individual believer directly, offering guidance and encouragement for their spiritual journey. He consistently connects theological concepts to the practical realities of Christian life, urging his listeners to live out their faith in their daily lives.
In essence, Saint John Chrysostom's homilies on 2 Corinthians provide a rich and insightful exploration of Paul's letter, offering guidance on how to live a life of love, humility, and reconciliation with God and others.
The Second Letter to the Corinthians is the most personal of all of Paul's extant writings, and it reveals much about his character. In it he deals with one or more crises that have arisen in the Corinthian church. The confrontation with these problems caused him to reflect deeply on his relationship with the community and to speak about it frankly. One moment he is venting his feelings of frustration and uncertainty, the next he is pouring out his relief and affection. The importance of the issues at stake between them calls forth from him an enormous effort of personal persuasion, as well as doctrinal considerations that are of great value for us.
