September 13, 2025 Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Daily Readings: 1 Timothy 1:15-17; Luke 6:43-49
St. Paul or someone from his close circle writes tenderly to the young Bishop Timothy, reminding him of the very heart of the Gospel: the purpose of Christ’s coming. Jesus bears His name with meaning, for Jesus signifies “Yahweh saves.” Indeed, He is the Saviour who came into the world to redeem sinners. Paul humbly acknowledges himself as the chief among them, yet marvels at the patience and mercy of Christ, who forgave him, transformed him, and made him a sharer of eternal life. With gratitude overflowing, Paul breaks into doxology: “To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, and the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.” Here, Paul recognizes both his unworthiness and God’s sovereign majesty, affirming that salvation is a gift of pure grace.
The Gospel continues this theme of inner authenticity and steadfastness. Jesus teaches that the true character of a person is revealed not in appearances but in the fruits of their life. Just as a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, so a good heart produces words and actions that uplift. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Lk 6:45). Words, therefore, are windows into the soul; they disclose whether one is rooted in goodness or in corruption.
Jesus contrasts two builders to illustrate obedience and faith. The wise who hear His word and act upon it, are like those who build on rock. When storms inevitably come, their foundation stands firm. The foolish, who ignore His teaching, build on sand, and their collapse is great. Life’s trials, then, are the testing ground of discipleship, revealing whether our foundation is in Christ.
The Church remembers St. John Chrysostom, the golden-mouthed preacher, whose eloquence sprang from a heart immersed in Scripture and truth. His life reminds us that words shaped by faith have the power to form lives and strengthen the Church.
Call to Action: Every person is wonderfully unique. To imitate blindly is to diminish the Creator’s design. Let us embrace our uniqueness as a living hymn of praise and gratitude to God.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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