Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Wednesday might not be the best day of the week to celebrate the 79th anniversary of the repeal of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution (prohibition), but I hope you were able to note it in some fashion.
First Things marks Repeal Day with this passage from the great 4th-century Church Father St. John Chrysostom:
“For wine was given us of God, not that we might be drunken, but that we might be sober; that we might be glad, not that we get ourselves pain. ‘Wine,’ it says, ‘maketh glad the heart of man,’ but thou makest it matter for sadness; since those who are inebriated are sullen beyond measure, and great darkness over-spreads their thoughts. It is the best medicine, when it has the best moderation to direct it.
The passage before us is useful also against heretics, who speak evil of God’s creatures; for if it had been among the number of things forbidden, Paul would not have permitted it, nor would have said it was to be used. And not only against the heretics, but against the simple ones among our brethren, who when they see any persons disgracing themselves from drunkenness, instead of reproving such, blame the fruit given them by God, and say, ‘Let there be no wine.’ We should say then in answer to such, ‘Let there be no drunkenness; for wine is the work of God, but drunkenness is the work of the devil. Wine maketh not drunkenness; but intemperance produceth it. Do not accuse that which is the workmanship of God, but accuse the madness of a fellow mortal. But thou, while omitting to reprove and correct the sinner, treatest thy Benefactor with contempt!’”
Perhaps someone needs to teach the modern day nanny-staters something about moderation.
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Comments:
Aug '10
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Cheers Mollie ! Merry Christmas.
Who was the damned fool that tried to abolish ?
May '12
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Johnny Golden Flower could not write a sermon to save his life. No wonder he faded into obscurity.
Edited on December 6, 2012 at 4:00amJan '11
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
You say that we can't have guns or soda, but we have to subsidize condoms? Because, you say, people have no willpower or personal responsibility. OK, I think that's a crock, but suppose you're right ...
What sort of people would you suggest should intervene to protect us from a lack of willpower?
Did you say ... Politicians?
I'm sorry, I can't stop laughing. Can't help it ...
Jul '10
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Slainte!
Jun '10
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
St. John Chrysostomos on Ricochet? Thank you, Mollie! My Kindle is loaded with his homilies. Reading them, I feel that I've already died and gone to heaven. And, they're available free online!!!
Sep '12
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
I raise my Brandy cup to you, Mrs. Hemingway, and to St. John Chrysostom.
Apr '11
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Amen t'that! And cheers!
Sep '10
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
You should google The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom for a real treat.
Aug '10
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Does not Mayor Bloomberg have a silver thunderbucket ?
Jun '10
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
I have the JOY of chanting it daily.
Nov '12
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Prohibition was the 18th ammendment. The 21st ammendment repealed prohibition.
Apr '11
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
I'm Orthodox. St. Chrysostomos wrote our liturgy It's a work of the people not of the priest alone.
St. Chrysostomos' argument is very like Lincoln's Temperance Address of 1842. He said:
Culture is a work of the people, not a high priesthood of social architects. Fashion, shame, and glory are the instruments by which we maintain cultural norms.
Social engineering doesn't work from the right or the left. It's always a work of the people, and it should be left so.
Jun '12
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg
Thanks for posting this.
The arguments against drunkenness are similar to arguments against gun control, aren't they.
Mar '11
Re: Chrysostom Slaps Down Mike Bloomberg