I hope you had the chance to read St. John Chrysostom’s homily yesterday in the Office of Readings. Having read it in years past, I am eager to reread it as the liturgical cycle brings it to my attention.
He spoke of the Five Ways to God.
The first is detesting and confessing one’s own sins. This is sufficient for freedom. It develops one’s conscience.
The second is forgetting the sins others have committed against you and controlling your anger so as to not seek revenge.
The third is fervent prayer from the heart.
The fourth is giving alms to the poor and needy.
The fifth way is through humility in one’s station in life.
Confession, forgiveness, prayer, almsgiving and humility. The roads to heaven. The way of the beatitudes. Christian perfection.
With which of these do you find most difficulty? With which does the world at large seems to struggle?
I wish to mention my favorite “saint to be” (I hope), Pope John Paul the First. His motto was “Humilitas”. His life and his writings always reflected these five roads to paradise. I think he would have agreed with St. John.
St. John Chrysostom, pray for us.
Papa Luciani, pray for us.
