Sunday Sermon - 10.6.24
LATIN MASS: TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
EPISTLE: Ephesians 5:15 See therefore, brethren, how you walk circumspectly: not as unwise, 16 But as wise: redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore become not unwise, but understanding what is the will of God. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is luxury; but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms, and hymns, and spiritual canticles, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to God and the Father: 21 Being subject one to another, in the fear of Christ.
Always be wise because the times are evil. Paul warns about being drunk but that applies to anything that keeps you from having a sober mind and understanding the times we live in. The usual suspects like alcohol, drugs and food are always a danger. We must also be wary of our comforts and entertainment as well. Electronics, sports, recreation and any other thing that dulls our senses. Items of recreation are to be enjoyed responsibly and in moderation. They are always to be in lower priority to God and His will.
In this same passage, Paul does not condemn celebration and merrymaking. He says we should do those very things. But we must always do them in moderation and with our eyes on Our Lord.
GOSPEL: John 4:46 He came again therefore into Cana of Galilee, where He made the water wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capharnaum. 47 He having heard that Jesus was come from Judea into Galilee, went to Him, and prayed Him to come down, and heal his son; for he was at the point of death. 48 Jesus therefore said to him: Unless you see signs and wonders, you believe not. 49 The ruler saith to Him: Lord, come down before that my son die. 50 Jesus saith to him: Go thy way; thy son liveth. The man believed the word which Jesus said to him, and went his way. 51 And as he was going down, his servants met him; and they brought word, saying, that his son lived. 52 He asked therefore of them the hour wherein he grew better. And they said to him: Yesterday, at the seventh hour, the fever left him. 53 The father therefore knew, that it was at the same hour that Jesus said to him, Thy son liveth; and himself believed, and his whole house.
If you come to Christ seeking signs, wonders and miracles, you will leave disappointed. Those signs and wonders are directed towards increasing our faith. That is their purpose. They are a testimony about Our Lord, but they are not a replacement for Our Lord. Jesus tests the ruler by saying that he is just looking for a miracle, but the ruler shows that he believes in Our Lord. He shows that his focus is on Christ and he humbly makes a petition in faith to Him. That is why Our Lord grants the miracle.
Keep your eyes on Our Lord and keep faith in Him. While He may not grant a miracle of physical healing for us, He absolutely promises to give us the miracle of a spiritual healing. And the spiritual healing is infinitely greater than the physical healing. Beg from Him for the spiritual healing in the sacraments and it will be given to you.
NOVUS ORDO: TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” 19 So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner.
21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.” 24 Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Mankind has dominion over the animals. Animals are wonderful for us and we can enjoy them very much. But they are not a replacement for other humans and our families. Man is a social creature and needs to be in communion with others. First in communion with God and then in communion with his neighbor.
When husband and wife are joined together, they become one flesh. They do something that even the angels cannot do and no other creature can do. They participate with God in creating a new person with an eternal soul. This incredibly holy gift has been given to mankind but we must abide by the rules that God has ordained for it. We must enter marriage for life with another and be faithful to that covenant with our spouse. We must become one flesh.
NEW TESTAMENT: Hebrews 2:9 but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters
The Word became Flesh and dwelt among us. Our Lord came down from Heaven to walk among us and become man. In that same manner He created the New Covenant to reconcile man with God again. Through His suffering we can be united again to the Father. And not just united with Him, but we are adopted into His Family. We become children of God. So as Our Lord is the Son of the Father, and we are children of the Father, that is why Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters.
Never forget that you carry the NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit upon your soul. You are part of the family of God. You carry THEIR name with you wherever you go. So act like it. Listen to the words of Baptism and the Sign of the Cross. Those are NOT empty words! Really ponder over the fact that you are baptized into the NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. You bear THEIR name on you.
GOSPEL: Mark 10:2 Some Pharisees came, and to test Him they asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her.” 5 But Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9 Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
10 Then in the house the disciples asked Him again about this matter. 11 He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
13 People were bringing little children to Him in order that He might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. 14 But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs. 15 Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.
The Family of God is exactly that. It is not a club or gathering. It is not a social group. It is a family. This is also why God hates divorce. God joins a husband and wife together. It is not an act of man. This is why it does not end until death.
We must also realize that children are just as much a part of the Family of God as everyone else. They are loved by God and welcomed with open arms by Him. We need to regain that childlike innocence in learning to trust Him in all things.