Feast of Sancti Joannis Chrysostomi, Episcopi, Confessoris et Ecclesiæ Doctoris
Classis III – Commemoration of the Golden-Mouthed Preacher
“I charge thee, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus, who shall judge the living and the dead, by His coming, and His kingdom: preach the word: be instant in season, out of season, reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine…”
— 2 Timothy 4:1–2
“You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world… Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 5:13–16
On this feast of St. John Chrysostom, the “Golden-Mouthed” doctor, the Church invites us to contemplate the noble vocation of preaching the truth—in word, in deed, in season and out of season. Today’s Epistle and Gospel converge into a single radiant theme: the Christian must not hide the light of truth, nor let the salt of doctrine lose its savor. Such was the life and mission of St. John Chrysostom, whose words cut through the corruption of his age like a two-edged sword (cf. Heb. 4:12), and whose steadfastness amid persecution bore witness to a faith unmoved by earthly powers.
1. “Preach the Word”—The Fire of Apostolic Zeal (2 Tim 4:1–8)
St. Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is urgent, solemn, even severe. He reminds his disciple of the eschatological horizon: Christ will come again to judge, and this awareness must infuse every pastoral act. It is not a gentle suggestion, but a charge—a command issued in the presence of God.
St. John Chrysostom understood this deeply. In his Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles, he writes:
“If it were in our power to raise the dead, and not to preach, we should be accountable for not preaching… for the Gospel is more needful than the raising of the dead.” (Hom. III in Acta Apostolorum)
He perceived preaching not merely as a function of office, but as a sacred duty—a matter of eternal consequence. His own life was marked by fearless proclamation: denouncing imperial decadence, rebuking clerical laxity, and calling all to repentance. He exemplified that “instant in season, out of season” spirit, enduring exile and opposition for the sake of truth.
St. Gregory Nazianzen affirms this zeal in the true preacher:
“Let us not adulterate the Word of God. For we are not peddlers, but heralds; not traffickers in truth, but servants.” (Orat. II, De Fuga)
To preach is not to court applause, but to lay down one’s life for the salvation of souls.
2. Salt and Light—The Christian’s Public Witness (Matt 5:13–19)
Our Lord’s words in the Gospel are both inspiring and demanding. The Christian must be salt—preserving the world from moral decay—and light, illumining the darkness of sin and ignorance. Christ does not call for a hidden piety, but a luminous witness that glorifies the Father.
St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this very passage, declares:
“If others lose their savor, that is nothing to you; you are ordained to be teachers of the world, to be a leaven for the lump, to be lights to all men, as being set in the midst of all.”
— Hom. XV in Mattheum
Here the saint captures the radical responsibility of the faithful: to counter the corruption of the age by the integrity of their lives and the clarity of their doctrine. He was not content with personal holiness; he demanded a holiness that transformed society.
Yet the warning is clear: “If the salt lose its savor… it is good for nothing.” A compromised Gospel, a diluted truth, is not only ineffective—it is dangerous. The Fathers often spoke of this.
St. Hilary of Poitiers writes:
“It is the nature of light to shine and salt to preserve. Let those who have received the light of Christ not veil it with fear, nor allow the teachings of the Lord to become tasteless through cowardice or silence.” (In Matt. Comm. IV)
3. “I Have Fought the Good Fight”—The Reward of Fidelity
St. Paul, at the end of his life, looks back not with regret, but with triumphant hope: “I have kept the faith… henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of justice.” This confidence is not born of pride, but of fidelity. He has not been perfect, but he has been faithful.
St. John Chrysostom, too, suffered exile, opposition, and death—but he stood firm. He did not compromise with emperors or bend to heretical pressures. His eloquence served truth, not power. Like St. Paul, he “poured himself out like a libation” (cf. 2 Tim. 4:6).
In his final days, he reportedly uttered: “Glory to God for all things.” Even in suffering, he praised the divine Providence that orders all for the good of those who love Him (cf. Rom. 8:28).
Conclusion: Chrysostomic Courage for Today
In an age where truth is often silenced and doctrine diluted, the voice of St. John Chrysostom resounds like a clarion call: Preach. Rebuke. Illuminate. Sanctify. Whether you are a bishop, a priest, a parent, or a lay apostle—do not hide the light. Let your words and life burn with the brightness of Catholic truth.
As we honor the “Golden Mouth” today, may we also pray for golden hearts—courageous, faithful, and inflamed with zeal for souls.
“Let us show forth our faith by our works, and by the brightness of our life, draw others to the truth.”
— St. John Chrysostom, Hom. XV in Matt.
Collect for the Feast of St. John Chrysostom (Traditional Missal):
Deus, qui beatum Joannem Confessorem tuum atque Pontificem, ob eloquentiam evangelicæ gratiæ decorasti: præsta, quæsumus; ut ejus monitis instructi, et exemplo, ad æternæ gloriæ praemia perveniamus.
Per Dominum nostrum…
Amen.