Lectio Divina with the Spiritual Masters: The Gospel of Matthew with St. John Chrysostom

The homilies from St John Chrysostom are surprisingly helping and challenging- the book allows one to write their mental prayer responses to these and the inspirational and challenging Meditatios and Oratios.

I had visualized something quite different. I expected a text rich with St Chrysostom's commentary, not a programmed "meditation" and writing journal. This may be fine for younger folk, but not for me.

Some books teach; others awaken. This one does both. Lectio Divina with the Spiritual Masters invites the reader not merely to read Matthew’s Gospel but to pray it—guided by the golden voice of St. John Chrysostom. Using the venerable Douay-Rheims translation, each section pairs the sacred text with selections from Chrysostom’s homilies, creating a dialogue between Scripture and one of its greatest interpreters. The structure follows the four movements of Lectio Divina—reading, meditation, prayer, contemplation—and does so with a precision and beauty rarely found in modern guides. The effect is cumulative: the more one reads, the more the Gospel interiorizes itself. You begin to hear the cadence of the early Church—the Fathers who preached with both fire and tenderness, exhorting their flocks not merely to understand the Word but to live it. What distinguishes this edition is its purity of approach. There is no modern gloss, no moralizing overlay—just the text of Scripture and the luminous commentary of a saint. It restores the confidence that truth does not need translation into novelty; it needs reverent attention. Reading a chapter each night feels less like study and more like visitation—the Spirit drawing near, one verse at a time. This reviewer’s own encounter with the healing of Jairus’s daughter (Matthew 9) proved transformative, awakening the realization that the Gospel’s miracles are timeless allegories: that every soul asleep in sin is a daughter awaiting Christ’s hand, and every praying parent is Jairus reborn. Such moments confirm the book’s genius—it turns the printed page into living prayer. For priests, parents, and any soul seeking renewal in Scripture, this volume is a wellspring. It reminds us that the Word of God is not only to be analyzed but adored. Why We Should Read This Book: Because it restores the lost art of listening to Scripture as the Fathers did—with heart bowed, mind alert, and eternity open. Through Chrysostom’s fire and Matthew’s faith, the reader rediscovers that the Gospel is not past tense but perpetual presence.

This book is a masterpiece of prayerful scholarship. Lectio Divina with the Spiritual Masters: The Gospel of Matthew with St. John Chrysostom brings the golden tongue of the saint into living conversation with Scripture. Each meditation pierces the heart and sharpens the mind—ancient truth freshly spoken. It’s not merely read; it’s prayed. A daily companion that turns the Gospel into fire.