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From
a homily by Saint John Chrysostom
The weakness of God is stronger than men
 t was clear through unlearned
men that the cross was persuasive, in fact, it persuaded the whole world. Their discourse
was not of unimportant matters but of God and true religion, of the Gospel way of life and
future judgment, yet it turned plain, uneducated men into philosophers. How the foolishness
of God is wiser than men, and His weakness stronger than men!
 In what way
is it stronger? It made its way throughout the world and overcame all men; countless men
sought to eradicate the very name of the Crucified, but that name flourished and grew even
mightier. Its enemies lost out and perished; the living who waged war on a dead man proved
helpless. Therefore, when a Greek tells me I am dead, he shows only that he is foolish indeed,
for I, whom he thinks a fool, turn out to be wiser than those reputed wise. So too, in calling
me weak, he but shows that he is weaker still. For the good deeds which tax-collectors and
fishermen were able to accomplish by God’s grace, the philosophers, the rulers, the countless
multitudes cannot even imagine.
Paul had this in mind when he said: The weakness
of God is stronger than men. That the preaching of these men was indeed divine is brought
home to us in the same way. For how otherwise could twelve uneducated men, who lived on lakes
and rivers and wastelands, get the idea for such an immense enterprise? How could men who perhaps
had never been in a city or a public square think of setting out to do battle with the whole world?
That they were fearful, timid men, the evangelist makes clear; he did not reject the fact or try to
hide their weaknesses. Indeed he turned these into a proof of the truth. What did he say of them?
That when Christ was arrested, the others fled, despite all the miracles they had seen, while he
who was leader of the others denied Him!
How then account for the fact that these men, who in
Christ’s lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole
world once Christ was dead—if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them and rouse their
courage? Did they perhaps say to themselves: “What is this? He could not save Himself but He will
protect us? He did not help Himself when He was alive, but now that He is dead He will extend a
helping hand to us? In His lifetime He brought no nation under His banner, but by uttering His name
we will win over the whole world?” Would it not be wholly irrational even to think such thoughts,
much less to act upon them?
It is evident, then, that if they had not seen Him risen
and had proof of His power, they would not have risked so much.
—Saint John Chrysostom,
bishop
Office of Readings, Saint Bartholomew, August 24
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