Mercy in John Chrysostom’s Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15633/ps.3566Keywords:
John Chrysostom, God’s mercy, Gospel of MatthewAbstract
This article deals with the question concerning God’s mercy according to the homilies of John Chrysostom on the Gospel according to Mathew and its role in Christian life. Mercy is God’s name. Chrysostom notices that God’s mercy is the only reason for the incarnation of God’s Son, because He accepted human life to save people from all kind of maladies and evils. Therefore mercy is the essence of Christian life. Chrysostom underlines that rewards for mercy given to people during earthly life cannot been compared with God’s mercy, because human mercy is involved with temporal maters and God’s mercy offers eternal salvation. God’s mercy is always connected with salvation. Therefore even human beings can obtain God’s mercy without any condition, but metanoia and forgiveness are required.
Mercy is so important for real Christian life that Christians have to learn it throughout the entire life. God the Father and Jesus Christ are the best teachers of mercy. Mercy is the best measurement of humanity. Man without mercy is dead spiritually even if he is still living his earthly life. There is a penalty for a lack of mercy and the penalty is eternal punishment. Mercy can not be offered to others from the goods stolen or possessed in a dishonest way.
References
Tekst źródłowy
Św. Jan Chryzostom (tekst grecki): ΤΟΥ ΕΝ ΑΓΙΟΙΣ ΠΑΤΡΟΣ ΗΜΩΝ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΧΡΥΣΟΣΤΟΜΟΥ ΑΡΧΙΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΟΥ ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΕΩΣ ΤΑ ΕΥΡΙΣΚΟΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΤΑ. ΥΠΟΜΝΗΜΑ ΕΙΣ ΤΟΝ ΑΓΙΟΝ ΜΑΤΘΑΙΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΕΥΑΓΓΕΛΙΣΤΗΝ (PG 57, 13–90. 175–472 oraz PG 58, 471–794).
Św. Jan Chryzostom (tekst polski), Homilie na Ewangelię według św. Mateusza, Homilie na Ewangelię według św. Mateusza. Część pierwsza: homilie 1–40, tłum. J. Krystyniacki, rewizja przekładu, oprac. tekstu i przypisy A. Baron, uwspółcześnienie tekstu E. Buszewicz, Kraków 2000 (ŹMT 18).
Św. Jan Chryzostom (tekst polski), Homilie na Ewangelię według św. Mateusza. Część druga: homilie 41–90, tłum. A. Baron (homilie 41–60), J. Krystyniacki (homilie 61–90), rewizja przekładu, oprac. tekstu i przypisy A. Baron, uwspółcześnienie tekstu E. Buszewicz, Kraków 2001 (ŹMT 23).
Opracowania
Baron A., Twórcza przygoda spotkania ze Złotoustym, w: Jan Chryzostom, Homilie na Ewangelię według św. Mateusza. Część pierwsza: homilie 1–40, Kraków 2000, s. 5–14 (ŹMT 18).
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