Msgr, Pope on the Paradoxical Freedom of Poverty as Taught by St. John Chrysostom

"There is a saying that you cannot steal from a man who has nothing, and you cannot threaten a man who has nothing to lose. Of Jesus, the Son of Man who had no where to lay his head (Matt 8:20), this was surely true. The world had no claim on him, nothing to hook him or claim his loyalty. Even his life could not be taken from him for he had already laid it down freely (cf Jn 10:18).

"St. John Chrysostom spoke of it boldly in a sermon that paints well the paradoxical freedom of poverty and the enslavement of riches and possessions.  More on that in a moment…

"But first, consider that the heart of the slavery most of us experience comes from our attachments to this world. . . ."

In a recent commentary based on the writings of Saint John Chrysostom, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on how most of our slavery and anxiety is rooted in our love for this world and our fear of losing its pleasures, and its promises of power and popularity and on how one "cannot steal from a man who owns nothing, and y. . . cannot threaten a man who has nothing to lose; . . . cannot deprive a man who has Jesus Christ."

To access Msgr. Pope's complete post, please visit:

Community in Mission: On the Paradoxical Freedom of Poverty as Taught by St. John Chrysostom (14 SEP 22)