ON LIVING SIMPLY John Chrysostom Book Review

On Living Simply: The Golden Voice of John Chrysostom
A Book of Ancient Wisdom
compiled by Robert Van de Weyer




Published by Liguori/Triumph, Liguori MO
ISBN: 978-0-7648-0056-6
Softcover
Retail price: $9.95
Size: 5-1/4 x 7-3/8 inches (19 cm)
96 pages


What is on the book's back cover:This meditational book contains more than 90 excerpts from the sermons of Saint John Chrysostom, a major but little-known spiritual thinker of the early Church. Robert Van de Weyer has selected thematic passages from the written record of these sermons in order to inspire, challenge, remind, and reassure a new generation of readers.


John Chrysostom was a spell-binding preacher and the leader of the Church of Constantinople during the 4th century. He chastised the rich for failing to share their wealth with the less fortunate, and he described generosity to another not as gift-giving but as a required repayment of a debt. He view the goal of marriage as companionship on the journey to heaven. This book brings these and other views across the centuries in a message whose modernity, bluntness, and vigor is undimmed by time.


Babamarusia's Review:Today I read On Living Simply: The Golden Voice of John Chrysostom, A Book of Ancient Christian Wisdom compiled by Robert van de Weyer, published by Ligouri/Triumph, 1996. It’s a pretty little book, and the pages all have lots of space that is empty–-and at that, it is full of wisdom and thought that is as useful and functional today as it was in the 4th century. Beginning with a brief biography of John the “golden-mouthed,” name for his eloquence and the outspoken truths in his sermons, John was eventually forced to leave the city where he lived because the rulers and the rich didn’t care for what he was saying.


There are 84 writings–very easy to read in one sitting, and also marvelous read one each day for 84 days. However it is done, it’s a good read. Now for today. After reading this book, I understand better the nature of being a steward of all that belongs to God–which is…. EVERYthing.


Why should I take care of my home and yard, my possessions? I should take care of them as a steward, keeping all in good order for the next steward to come.


Is it possible to be humble and meek, and be wrong? Most definitely so, and here is how. As John Chrysostom points out, humility and meekness can become an idol, a worship of attitude instead of a reflection of the Christian’s nature in relationship to God. When humility and meekness, and other forms of visible display–such as living frugally, relying on other for transportation and the like create a situation where someone else is put out in an yway–cause others to inconvenience themselves in an unnecessary manner, then the humble person has elevated him- or herself to a position above others.


A lot of topics are covered by John Chrysostom, taken and written in current English usage by the author. There are strong words spoken out of love, that come across as loving rather than harsh. Whether this is the nature of John’s message or the creativeness of Mr. Van de Weyer’s writing, I don’t know. The author worked from pieces and fragments as you might expect he would, given the age of the original manuscripts.


I encourage you to read this book that I now recommend to you.
....babamarusia