THE FEAST OF ST CALLISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR.
FEAST OF ST CALLISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR.
“While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them,
“This generation is an evil generation;
it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it,
except the sign of Jonah.
Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites,
so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
At the judgment
the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation
and she will condemn them,
because she came from the ends of the earth
to hear the wisdom of Solomon,
and there is something greater than Solomon here.
At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation
and condemn it,
because at the preaching of Jonah they repented,
and there is something greater than Jonah here.” (Luke 11: 29 - 32).
Monday October 14th in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Callistus, Pope and Martyr. Died circa 222.
How does history remember Pope St Callistus? From slave to pope to martyr.
Pope St Callistus was opposed openly by some of his Bishops, clergy and theologians. Why?
These people disagreed with some of his teaching.
Some members of the hierarchy also disagreed with the uncompromising stand of Callistus that the Church must show mercy and forgive even the worst of sinners. This struggle in the Church with the Rigorist faction outlived St Callistus who was martyred by Emperor Alexander Severus.
In the Book of Jonah 3: 1 - 10, Jonah preached to the Ninivites and shared the testimony of his stay in the belly of the whale.
The people and their king heard the message. They believed and repented.
St Paul preached to the Greeks in the Areopagus. They listened attentively. Only one person believed.
Jesus told the crowd in today's Gospel: No more miracles for you. You keep looking for a big sign from heaven to prove that I am the Messiah. But what happened to Jonah is the only sign you will get.
My friends, where are you today in your spiritual walk with Jesus? Are you still looking for more signs?
Listen to what Abraham said to Dives in the Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. The former rich man denied Lazarus a little sign that his life matters. Abraham told him that his brothers have more than enough signs from the Church to make them believe and change their lives.
‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead." (Luke 16: 31).
We have in the Church all the signs we need. The Church of the living God is the sign of salvation.
The true Church subsists in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church founded by Jesus Christ.
This Church has visible structures. It exists in almost every country in the world, attesting to her universality.
The Church has one Shepherd, one Liturgy and holds the entire Deposit of Faith. That is, the Church has the fullness of Faith.
What more are we looking for? There will be no more signs till the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
October is the Holy Rosary Month.
“One day through the Rosary and the Scapular I will save the world.” -Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Dominic
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
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