Ancient Wisdom Living Hope

Edwina Murphy, Mosaic Press

These 365 meditations from early church scholars are arranged into daily and monthly readings. The scholars are from the 1st to the 5th centuries AD and comments are taken from Clement of Rome, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Origen, Augustine and Chrystostom among others.

Couched in today’s language and gender inclusive, it is surprising how very modern and relevant many of the sayings sound.
Augustine and Chrysostom speak to me most clearly in my every day, trying-to-be-Christian walk in life.

John Chrysostom wrote, “You do not achieve the righteousness of God by labour and toil, you receive it by a gift from above, contributing only one thing yourself —believing.”

The whole book is full of this kind of comment, giving clear guidance in a confusing world. These ancient churchmen obviously struggled, as we struggle, to find the true path of Christ’s teachings. It is a privilege to be inspired by their easy-to-understand wisdom.

Lyn Housen