John Chrysostom: seeing without light

Tuesday, September 13, 2022
    Feast of John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher, 407
Meditation:
    The fool says in his heart,
        “There is no God.”
    They are corrupt, and their ways are vile;
        there is no one who does good.
    —Psalm 53:1 (NIV)
Quotation:
    He is “a natural man,” who attributes every thing to reasonings of the mind and considers not that he needs help from above; which is a mark of sheer folly. For God bestowed it that it might learn and receive help from Him, not that it should consider itself sufficient unto itself. For eyes are beautiful and useful, but should they choose to see without light, their beauty profits them nothing; nor yet their natural force, but even doth harm. So if you mark it, any soul also, if it choose to see without the Spirit, becomes even an impediment unto itself.
    ... St. John Chrysostom (345?-407), Homily VII, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, v. XII, ed. Philip Schaff, New York: Christian Literature Company, 1889, p. 38 (see the book)
    See also Ps. 14:1; 53:1; Matt. 13:13-15; 1 Cor. 1:21-23; 2:6-7,12-14
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I see by the light of Your Spirit. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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