Belated Sunday Sermon - 5.18.25
LATIN MASS: FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
EPISTLE: James 1:17 Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. 18 For of His own will hath He begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of His creatures. 19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. 20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God. 21 Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Remember that the letter of James was written to those who were already saved. The letter is written by James the Just, the cousin of Our Lord. He was the son of Clopas and his wife Mary (not Our Lady). He was the first bishop of Jerusalem and one of the three (along with Peter and John) that Paul calls pillars of the Christian faith. Here he teaches us that we must guard ourselves against rash speech and actions. We must put away our own anger (not to be confused with righteous anger) and also eliminate all sin and uncleanness in our lives. He says this to those who are already saved and part of the Catholic Church. He is explicitly warning against losing our salvation, so take these words to heart. Cast aside all sin so that the Word of God might save you.
GOSPEL: John 16:5 But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to Him that sent Me, and none of you asketh Me: Whither goest Thou? 6 But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He is come, He will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment. 9 Of sin: because they believed not in Me. 10 And of justice: because I go to the Father; and you shall see Me no longer. 11 And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged. 12 I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will teach you all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself; but what things soever He shall hear, He shall speak; and the things that are to come, He shall shew you. 14 He shall glorify Me; because He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it to you.
The mystery of the Trinity is so profound and infinite that even with an eternity to learn about the Trinity, we will never fully understand or comprehend Them. Yet our Father in Heaven is so generous and loving to us that He willingly sends to us mortal humans not one, but TWO Persons of the Trinity to bring the Father’s grace to us and bring us back to the Father. We have received and continue to receive the Son, and here the Son tells us that He and the Father will send the Holy Ghost as well to mankind. God the Son has come down to mankind and now God the Holy Ghost does as well. Remember that this is one of the reasons that the demons hate mankind so much. Two of the Persons of the eternal and divine Trinity stoop down to Earth to raise up our lowly species to eternal glory.
NOVUS ORDO MASS: FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
NEW TESTAMENT: Acts 14:21 After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, then on to Iconium and Antioch. 22 There they strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the Kingdom of God.” 23 And after they had appointed elders for them in each church, with prayer and fasting they entrusted them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
24 Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. 25 When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26 From there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had completed. 27 When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how He had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.
It is through many (not one) persecutions that we must enter the Kingdom of God. Faith alone does not save. We must DO the will of the Father to enter into the Kingdom of God. We must willingly embrace persecutions when they come. We should expect hardships, punishments and persecutions for our Christian faith. If your walk with Jesus is easy, you need to look again and make sure you are on the narrow path. If you have not suffered for Our Lord and the Kingdom, just ask Him for some suffering that He wants you to endure. But be prepared, because He will send it.
NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new Heaven and a new earth; for the first Heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of Heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her Husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
“See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them; 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Not only will Jesus create a new Earth, but He will also create a new Heaven. The entire Earth, which has been scarred by our sins, will melt away and a new Earth will be created. This new Earth will never be touched by sin. We will walk the face of this Earth in our glorified bodies, where there is no sin nor pain that will touch us. We will dwell with God Himself in eternity. Our time here on this fallen Earth will be very short. Our time on the new Earth will be eternal. Keep you focus on the eternal new Earth that is our true home.
GOSPEL: John 13:31 When Judas had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in Him. 32 If God has been glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself and will glorify Him at once. 33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for Me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
We lowly and sinful creatures can still give glory to Our Lord by obeying Him. We glorify the Name of God when we fulfill His command to love God and love one another. We have been baptized in the Name of God, and when we obey Our Lord and fulfill the will of the Father, we give glory to Him. This is truly stunning when you think about it. Our obedience to the Son gives glory to the Trinity. Always remember that and obey Him.