Christian, Catholic, Mystic, Hermit: John Chrysostom's Sermon on Love

 

Saint John Chrysostom (c.345-407)

priest at Antioch then Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church

2nd  Sermon on the inscription to the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

"Do you love me?"... "Tend my sheep"

Let us follow the manner of life of the apostles and we will be their inferiors in nothing. For it was not their miracles that made them apostles, it was the holiness of their lives. It is by this means that a disciple of Christ is recognized. The Lord himself clearly gave us this sign. When he wanted to draw a portrait of his disciples and make known the sign that marked out his apostles, he said: “This is how all will know you are my disciples” . How? By working miracles? Raising the dead? Not at all. How, then? “This is how all will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13,35). Love is not a miracle but a work. “Love is the fulfillment of the Law” (Rm 13,10)... Therefore, have love among yourselves and you will counted among the apostles, even amongst the first of them. Do you want another proof of this teaching? See how Christ addressed Peter: “Peter, do you love me more than these?” There is nothing that enables us to win the Kingdom of heaven more than loving Christ as he deserves... What are we to do to love more than the apostles did?... Listen to Christ, the very one we are to love: “If you love me more than these, be the shepherd of my sheep”... Zeal, compassion, attentiveness are deeds, not miracles.