Voodoo the Leopard

John Chrysostom Quote

Let no one grieve at his poverty,

for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;

for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.

He has destroyed it by enduring it.

—John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople; sermon, ca. 400

Prayer from Clement's Letter to the Corinthians

Read this prayer from the Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians:

1 Clem. 59:3 [Grant unto us, Lord,] that we may set our hope on Thy Name which is the primal source of all creation,
and open the eyes of our hearts,
that we may know Thee,
who alone abidest Highest in the lofty,
Holy in the holy;
who layest low in the insolence of the proud,
who settest the lowly on high, and bringest the lofty low;
who makest rich and makest poor;
who killest and makest alive;
who alone art the Benefactor of spirits and the God of all flesh;
who lookest into the abysses,
who scanest the works of man;
the Succor of them that are in peril,
the Savior of them that are in despair;
The Creator and Overseer of every spirit;
who multipliest the nations upon earth,
and hast chosen out from all men those that love Thee through Jesus Christ,
Thy beloved Son, through whom Thou didst instruct us,
didst sanctify us,
didst honor us.
1 Clem. 59:4 We beseech Thee, Lord and Master, to be our help and succor.
Save those among us who are in tribulation;
have mercy on the lowly;
lift up the fallen;
show Thyself unto the needy;
heal the ungodly;
convert the wanderers of Thy people;
feed the hungry;
release our prisoners;
raise up the weak;
comfort the fainthearted.
Let all the Gentiles know that Thou art the God alone,
and Jesus Christ is Thy Son,
and we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture.

An Example of Humility from Clement Letter to the Corinthians

While re-reading Clement's epistle to the Corinthians, I am fascinated by this quote:

"We know that many among ourselves have delivered themselves to bondage, that they might ransom others. Many have sold themselves to slavery, and receiving the price paid for themselves have fed others." Chapter 55.

Did people sell themselves into slavery so that they might get the release of others, or feed others? It would seem to be the case, if true.

Back in the day, if you fell into debt and had no other way of paying it off, you could sell yourself into being your creditors slave. Depending on how you were treated, it wasn't always a bad deal: Your master had to feed, clothe, and provide housing to you until you paid off your debt. Depending on how you were treated, you could decide to stay with your master and become their bondservant.

But to sell yourself into slavery for someone else - who does this kind of thing? I suppose that if my wife and kids were needing to be released from slavery, I might do it without thought.

Would I sell myself into slavery for someone else? What about another family member, a good friend, or even a complete stranger? That would take some serious "hearing from God", the farther away from me you are(thinking 6 degrees of seperation here).

Which all causes me to wonder, "How far am I willing to go for someone else?"