24th Week, Tuesday, Sept 13: St. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31 / Luke 7:11-17
Paul speaks about Christ's body; We are all members of one body.
On Good Friday, April 5, 1985, 8,000 radio stations across the world
played the song "We Are the World" at the same time. The purpose was
twofold: to raise funds to feed Ethiopian famine victims and to show the unity
of the human family, rather than its division. Paul would have applauded the
gesture on the part of the disc jockeys of the world.
What he says about the body of Christ in today's reading applies equally
to the family of humankind. We are all members of the same family and should
begin to use our talents for the good of the entire family.
***
How are we using our own special talents for the good of the body of
Christ and the family of humankind? "If one part of the body suffers, all
the other parts suffer with it.' 1 Cor 12:26
***
St. John (344/49-407), monk and bishop of Constantinople, was called
“Chrysostom,” that is “mouth of gold,” on account of his great eloquence.
Though often in poor health, he deserved this name also for being outspoken
against corruption at the court and neglect and exploitation of the poor by the
mighty. For this reason, he was banned twice from his city and died in exile.
We owe him much of the Orthodox liturgy.
****
For You, Mother
Nothing in the gospel
narrative suggests that anyone asked Jesus to raise the son of the widow. This
is one of the rare occasions wherein Jesus takes the initiative, without being
asked by anyone, to heal or raise someone to life. What moved him to do so? I
wonder if the scene provoked in him the future scenario of his own mother at
his death: Here is a widow, just like his mother. She has lost the only son –
Jesus’ own mother would lose her only son. I wish to think that Mother Mary was
present with Jesus at Naim (or the disciples narrated it to her later) and the
scene would be etched in her heart; and when her turn came to be the widow who
lost her only son, she would recall the scene and find consolation and hope.
What greater gift can a son leave for his mother than the assurance that she
would have him again, alive!
***
Human beings are indeed an interesting and amazing species. They are the
only species on earth to have intellect and will. Humans are also the only
species known to build fires and cook their food, as well as the only known
species to clothe themselves and create and use numerous other technologies and
arts. Yet at its most fundamental, the human being is body and soul. Neither
takes precedence in importance and neither is also inferior to the other.
Hence when St. Paul used the analogy of the human body to describe the
Church, he was wise to mention that in the one Spirit we were all baptized and
the one Spirit was given to us all.
Yet at the finality of death, when the soul leaves the body, the body
becomes a lifeless thing and over time it will also decompose and disintegrate.
Nonetheless, we believe in the resurrection on the Last Day and we have
to leave it to the mysterious power of God to gather up our remains for the
resurrection (unless we are still alive by then).
When Jesus brought the young man back to life in the gospel, He showed
not only compassion. Jesus showed that He is the Lord of life and that He has
power over death. We may be alive but we can just choose to be mediocre and
just exist on earth, or we can choose to be loving and life-giving. When we
choose the latter, then we are truly offering our bodies as a living and loving
sacrifice to God.
***
Prayer: God our
Father, you entrusted your Good News to St. John Chrysostom. Loyally and
without fear, he sowed your word as a seed that it might bear fruit also when
it was accepted reluctantly. Give us trust in your word, make it grow in us that
it may become in all of us really good news to live by. We ask this through
Christ, our Lord. Amen
