Wednesday, September 21 : Saint John Chrysostom

Do you want me to show you the paths of conversion? They are numerous, varied and different, but they all lead to heaven. The first path of conversion is the condemnation of our faults. “You yourself begin by saying your faults in order to be justified.” And that is why the prophet said: “I said, ‘I confess my faults to the Lord,’ and you took away the guilt of my sin.” (Ps 32:5) So you yourself condemn the faults you have committed, and that will be enough for the Master to hear you. For the person who condemns his faults will be more afraid of falling back into them… There is a second path, which is not inferior to the first one. It is that we do not hold a grudge against our enemies, that we overcome our anger in order to forgive the offences of our companions in service, for that is how we shall obtain forgiveness for those which we commit against the Master. That is the second way of obtaining purification from our faults. The Lord says: “If you forgive the faults of others, your heavenly Father will forgive yours.” (Mt 6:14) Do you want to know the third path of conversion? It is the fervent and attentive prayer in the depth of your heart… The fourth path is alms; it has considerable and unspeakable power… Then modesty and humility are not inferior means for destroying sins by their root. We have the publican as a witness; he could not proclaim his good deeds, but he replaced them all with the offering of his humility, and thus he laid down the heavy burden of his faults (Lk 18:9f.). We have shown you five paths of conversion…So don’t remain inactive, but use all of these paths each day. They are easy paths, and you cannot use your destitution as a pretext.
maronite readings – rosary,team