Sunday Sermon - 11.19.23
LATIN MASS: RESUMED 6TH SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
EPISTLE: 1 Thessalonians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for you all; making a remembrance of you in our prayers without ceasing, 3 Being mindful of the work of your faith, and labour, and charity, and of the enduring of the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ before God and our Father: 4 Knowing, brethren beloved of God, your election: 5 For our Gospel hath not been unto you in word only, but in power also, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much fulness, as you know what manner of men we have been among you for your sakes. 6 And you became followers of us, and of the Lord; receiving the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that you were made a pattern to all that believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For from you was spread abroad the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia, and in Achaia, but also in every place, your faith which is towards God, is gone forth, so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves relate of us, what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God. 10 And to wait for His Son from Heaven (whom He raised up from the dead,) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.
An old saying is true, your actions speak so loud I can’t hear what you’re saying. Words are wonderful, when used in relation to action. Our works tell us who we really are and our works show what is truly important to us. You can SAY that God is important to you, but do you go to Mass and go with a fervent heart? You can SAY that you love your family, but do you spend your time on your phone rather than with them? Scripture says repeatedly that we will be judged by our works. So make yours count.
GOSPEL: Matthew 13:31 Another parable He proposed unto them, saying: The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. 32 Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable He spoke to them: The Kingdom of Heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. 34 All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables He did not speak to them. 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open My mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world.
The Catholic Church is the Kingdom of Heaven. We see the Church in the book of Acts. It is in its infancy as the small mustard seed. It grows over the years and centuries and is now the giant mustard tree.
Protestants are always trying to create their own mustard seed by trying to copy the book of Acts. But that was a one-time event. The mustard seed has grown into the tree. Protestants ignore the mustard tree right in front of them.
NOVUS ORDO: THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OLD TESTAMENT: Proverbs 31:10 A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant, she brings her food from far away. 15 She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her servant-girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She girds herself with strength, and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all her household are clothed in crimson. 22 She makes herself coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the city gates, taking his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them; she supplies the merchant with sashes. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the city gates.
This reading is shorter, they have a few verse from this passage but I thought it was good to include the whole passage. A wife who lives by the principles of Proverbs 31 is a treasure. If you have such a wife, be sure to tell her (and show her) how much you love and appreciate her. The Proverbs 31 wife is more precious than gold.
NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober;
Keep awake and sober. Whether you will live to see the Second Coming of Christ or not, you WILL be facing your own personal judgment before the throne of Christ. Be always ready and mindful that your death and judgment get one day closer every time you wake up. Go to confession at least once a month. Go to Mass every Sunday. Avoid sin and do good works and charity. Be ready.
GOSPEL: Matthew 25:14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Note something very important here. The worthless servant didn’t steal the talent from his master. He simply didn’t use it to gain profit for his master. This parable is directed to Christians. You MUST do good works. You must perform acts of charity. You must produce the good fruit of doing the Father’s will. This is not optional.
You were given the gifts of your life, your intellect, your skills and your talents. You were entrusted with these gifts and you are expected to use them for doing the Father’s will (since He is the one who gave you these gifts in the first place).
To help you think of good works you can do, here are the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy
Corporal Works of Mercy: (1) To feed the hungry; (2) To give drink to the thirsty; (3) To clothe the naked; (4) To shelter the homeless; (5) To visit the sick; (6) To visit the imprisoned; (7) To bury the dead
Spiritual Works of Mercy: (1) To instruct the ignorant; (2) To counsel the doubtful; (3) To admonish sinners; (4) To bear wrongs patiently; (5) To forgive offenses willingly; (6) To comfort the afflicted; (7) To pray for the living and the dead
Thank you! Food for thought and action 🙏📿