The Master – From “Leaves from St. John Chrysostom” by Saint John Chrysostom (vegetarian), Part 1 of 2

Today, it is a pleasure to share selections from Chapter 15, “The Archetype and the Type,” in Part 1 of The King’s Highway of Leaves St. John Chrysostom (vegetarian), which emphasizes the importance of looking for good deeds and a holy life when following a master.

Chapter 15 The Archetype and the Type. (Homilies on the Epistle to the Philippians, xiii., vol. v., p. 136.)

“The Apostles presented a type, maintaining in their own persons a certain archetype. Consider how austere their life was, as if offering an archetype, and an example, and living laws, for they set forth to all, through their deeds, that which the Scripture said. This is the best teaching, which has the power to lead the disciple. You may talk and use fine words, but if your actions do the contrary you are no teacher. The disciple thinks very little of fine words; they should be accompanied by the teaching and leading of works: this makes both the master venerable, and disposes the disciple to agree with him. How so? When he hears a man making a display of words, he says that he has enjoined what is impossible, and that he who is not a doer is the first to prove their impracticability. […]

The Scripture offers us numberless examples of a holy life; choose which you will, and follow the Master with His disciples. One shone by poverty, another through riches; for instance, Elias by poverty, Abraham by his wealth; choose whichever you think the easier and securer. Again, the one was holy through marriage, the other through virginity, as Abraham and Elias: choose your road, for each leads to Heaven. John was holy by fasting, and Job without it. […] And why do I speak of house and abundance and money, since a king has it in his power to win goodness for himself. A royal palace would be found to be far more troublesome than any private house. David, then, shone in His royalty, and His purple and His crown impeded Him in nothing: another was entrusted with the leadership of a whole people— I mean Moses— which is a more difficult thing. In the latter, power was greater, therefore the difficulty was greater. Do you see men who gained a good name both in riches and in poverty, in marriage and in continency? […]”