12/21/2025
Coats, blankets, hoodies, winter hats, and gloves. Clean but gently worn. Make a real Christmas for someone. Could you bring to the monastery any afternoon? Or follow this link to help: and we will do the shopping: https://givebutter.com/0Oa1Z2
The snow and ice have melted, and Christmas could be in the 60s. I may sound great to you. But for those who live on the street or in abandoned trailers and houses, it means wet, damp conditions. And most likely rain. Cold rain!
And for my Orthodox friends, do you remember what Saint John Chrysostom said about having two coats in your closet or food on your shelves?
No one was more frequent or stronger in his criticisms of the rich than St. John Chrysostom, first as Bishop of Antioch and then as Bishop of Constantinople, in both of which cities there were plenty of wealthy Christians.
Saint John Chrysostom says, "The man who has two shirts in his closet, one belongs to him; the other belongs to the man who has no shirt.
And as we find in the Gospels: John answered them, "The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise." New Revised Standard Version In reply, he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.”
And from Saint Basil: "Were you not naked when you came out of the womb? Will you not be naked when you return to the earth? Where did the things you now possess come from? If you say they just appeared spontaneously, then you are an atheist because you do not acknowledge the Creator and show no gratitude towards the one who gave them to you. But if you say they are from God, tell us the reason why you received them. Or is it that God is unjust because he unequally divides among us the things of this life? Why are you rich while that other man is poor? Is it not perhaps so that you might receive wages for kindheartedness and faithful stewardship and so that he may be honored with great prizes because of his endurance?"
And he continued: "But, as for you, when you hoard all these things in the insatiable bosom of greed, do you suppose that you do nothing wrong in cheating so many people? Who is a greedy man? Someone who is not content with what is sufficient. Who is a cheater? Someone who takes what belongs to others. And are you not a greedy man, are you not a cheater, when you take the things you received for the sake of stewardship and make them your own? Anyone who takes a man who is clothed and renders him naked would be termed a robber; but does someone who fails to clothe the naked when he can do so deserve any other appellation? The bread you are holding back belongs to the hungry; the coat you keep in your closet belongs to the naked; the shoes moldering in your closet belong to the shoeless; the silver you hide in a safe place belongs to the needy. Thus, the more there are whom you could help, the more there are whom you are wronging."
Saint Chrysostom received particular criticism from the grandes dames of Constantinople when he became too specific in his criticisms of the extravagances of wealthy women who, not content with silver jars, pitchers, and scent bottles, had also taken to silver chamberpots. Admitting to some embarrassment at taking up the subject, he wondered if it was not the makers of such things that ought to be ashamed. He sputtered to find a proper word for this excess:
"When Christ is famishing, do you revel in such luxury and act so foolishly? What punishment shall these people not suffer? And do you ask why there are robbers? Why murderers? Why such evils? When the devil has thus made you ridiculous. Simply having silver dishes is not in keeping with a soul devoted to wisdom, but is altogether a piece of luxury; but making unclean vessels also of silver, is this then luxury? I will not call it luxury, but senselessness; no, it's madness, worse than madness...."
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Please, the monastery needs your help, your prayers, and continued support.
“Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, so you do unto me”
