August 23, 1998
Become an Agent of Peace
Over the next few readings, we will be sharing with you
writings from other early saints of the Eastern Orthodox tradition who are not considered
"Desert Fathers." While they may well have been contemporaries of the fathers we
have been studying, they were not living in the desert, but instead were active in Church
affairs in cities, living in the world (family people, etc.), or otherwise engaged outside
the desert. However, these men and women share the spirit and traditions of early desert
monasticism and their writings continue to inspire seekers of wisdom today. We will begin
this series with St. John Chrysostom who discusses, "how to become an agent of
peace."
BEGIN: What are you saying? "Shall I forgive him?" Christ is saying,
"Yes!" This sacrifice was instituted for the sake of peace with your brother.
Accordingly, if the sacrifice was instituted for the sake of peace with your brother, but
you do not establish peace, you partake of the sacrifice in vain, the work has become of
no profit to you. Do first, then, that for the sake of which the sacrifice is offered, and
then you will properly enjoy its benefits. The Son of God came down for this purpose, to
reconcile our human nature to the Lord. But He did not come down for that purpose alone,
but also for the purpose of making us, if we do likewise, sharers of His title. For He
says: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God" (Mt.
5:9). You, according to human capacity, must do what the Only begotten Son of god has
done, be an agent of peace, for yourself and for others. For this reason, at the very time
of sacrifice He recalls to us no other commandment that that of reconciliation with
one’s brother, showing that it is the greatest of all. END
from Anthony M. Coniaris, ed., "Daily Readings From the Writings of St. John
Chrysostom," (Minneapolis, MN.: Light and Life Publishing Co., 1988), pp. 22-23
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