^{18th Sunday after Pentecost 2025}
During the reign of Pope St. Callistus I, the Church suffered her first schism led by the antipope Hippolytus.  However, years later, when Hippolytus was imprisoned with the true Pope St. Pontian, successor to St. Callistus I, he renounced his sin and was reconciled with the Church.  Hippolytus died a martyr beside the true pope and was canonized a saint.

There is a clear parallel to be drawn between the cure we see take place in today’s Gospel and that of the cripple at the pool of Bethsaida.  The friends of the paralytic would stop at nothing to help their companion while the man by the pool remained without assistance for 38 years.  This shows us how important we are to our neighbor and how we must rely on one another to reach our final reward.
#20251012B