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Catholic Church / Pacoima, CA

Salvation Must Be Received Freely

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

“Praise the Lord, my soul!”Ps. 146

Many believe that one cannot be condemned for being good, reasoning as follows: God is good and will not condemn me because I am a good person. The reality is that we have already been condemned because we are descendants and followers of a sinful generation that took the side of the devil and not of God. Hence our self-sufficiency, independence from God, tendencies toward the seven deadly sins, and rebellion against God.

It is the tendency to turn away from God and to idolize ourselves due to the deception placed by the devil to lure us into believing him rather than God. We are on the side of the devil, expelled from paradise, and therefore we need the Savior.

Jesus came to save us, to show us the path of truth that leads to life, in contrast to the path of lies that leads to death, which is the one we are already on, in this sinful flesh that leads us to death. Due to disobedience to God and choosing the side of the devil, we suffer from blindness, almost total ignorance, misunderstandings that divide us, diseases, and death.

It is up to each one of us to leave the path of the devil on which we were born—the path of sin, selfishness, pride, idolatries, and separation from God—and enter the path of Life, which is Christ. Only through faith in Him can we recover Life:

“Whoever believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe has already been condemned because they have not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.”John 3:18

I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. Therefore, it is not about not being a bad person according to one’s limited perspective and distorted vision, nor about being a “good” person in your own eyes, or fulfilling some precept that you decide to follow in your own way, or going to Mass… That is not what saves us or what makes us leave the path of condemnation on which we are. We only leave this path if we become true disciples of Christ, and take the path that leads to the Father, which is Him, following Him closely, being His sheep who hear and follow Him.

Jesus makes clear the conditions to be His disciples:

“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”John 8:31

Then Jesus said to His disciples:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”Matthew 16:24

The one who created you without you cannot save you without you. Each person must invite Jesus into their heart, listening to Him and opening the door, for He cannot enter your soul and life unless you let Him in.

Saint John Chrysostom | September 13

Born in Antioch in the 4th century, and raised by his widowed mother, Saint John received a rigorous classical education. He was first called to the ascetic life, even spending time as an anchorite living in a cave near Antioch. However, this life of extreme mortification was hard on his physical body, and he eventually returned to the city to recover.

Saint John was ordained in 298. He spent the next 12 years preaching in the Cathedral of Antioch, and it was most likely during this time that he earned the name Chrysostom which means “golden-mouthed.”

In 397 or 398 he was made archbishop of Constantinople against his will. This post placed Saint John in the midst of imperial politics. But he would not be drawn in. He kept a modest household without extravagance and refused to serve the sumptuous suppers for political supplicants that predecessors in the position had. He preached against corruption and decadence and fought for the reform of clergy even deposing corrupt bishops.

Unfortunately, this high moral stance made enemies of powerful people at court and in the Church. They conspired against him and eventually Saint John was exiled to Armenia. He died in exile in 407. He was made a Father of the Church at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1568.

Weekly Readings

Sunday: Is 35:4-7a/Ps 146:7, 8-9, 9-10 (1b)/Jas 2:1-5/Mk 7:31-37
Monday: 1 Cor 5:1-8/Ps 5:5-6, 7, 12/Lk 6:6-11
Tuesday: 1 Cor 6:1-11/Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b/Lk 6:12-19
Wednesday: 1 Cor 7:25-31/Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17/Lk 6:20-26
Thursday: 1 Cor 8: 1b-7, 11-13/Ps 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 23-24/Lk 6:27-38
Friday: 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22b-27/Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6, 12/Lk 6:39-42
Saturday: Nm 21:4b-9/Ps 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38/Phil 2:6-11/Jn 3:13-17
Next Sunday: Is 50:4c-9a/Ps 116:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (9)/ Jas 2:14-18/Mk 8:27-35

Observances for the Week

Sunday: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time; Grandparents’ Day
Monday: St. Peter Claver, Priest
Wednesday: Patriot Day
Thursday: The Most Holy Name of Mary
Friday: St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Saturday: The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Next Sunday: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Catechetical Sunday

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