Sunday Sermon 1.22.23

Third Sunday after Epiphany / Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

LATIN MASS (THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY)

(Epistle) Romans 12:16-21 Brethren: Be not wise in your own conceits. To no man rendering evil for evil: providing good things not only in the sight of God, but also in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as is in you, have peace with all men. Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved, but give place unto wrath. For it is written: Revenge is mine: I will repay, saith the Lord. But if thy enemy be hungry, give him to eat; if he thirst, give him to drink: for doing this, thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil by good.

Revenge is the Lord’s. Forgive everyone, especially your enemies. Don’t carry that hatred around with you in your heart. It will poison your soul. Remember that the Father will forgive your sins as you forgive others. Let God worry about the sins of others. You worry about doing at least one charitable work of God today.

(Gospel) Matthew 8:1-13 At that time, when Jesus was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him: and behold a leper came and adored Him saying: Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, stretching forth His hand touched him, saying: I will. Be thou made clean. And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith to him: See, thou tell no man: but go, show thyself to the priest, and offer the gift which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. And when He had entered into Capharnaum, there came to Him a centurion, beseeching Him, and saying: Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, and is grievously tormented. And Jesus saith to him: I will come and heal him. And the centurion making answer said: Lord, I am not worthy that Thou should enter under my roof: but only say the word and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man subject to authority, having under me soldiers; and I say to this: Go, and he goes; and to another: Come, and he comes; and to my servant: Do this, and he does it. And Jesus hearing this marveled, and said to them that followed Him: Amen I say to you, I have not found so great faith in Israël. And I say to you, that many shall come from the east and the west, and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven: but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into the exterior darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said to the centurion: Go, and as thou hast believed, so be it done to thee. And the servant was healed at the same hour.

Jesus can heal anyone, except those who refuse to acknowledge His Kingship and Lordship of all creation. When was the last time you went to Confession? If it has been more than a month, it’s been too long. Go to Confession ASAP, and have your soul healed by Christ.

NOVUS ORDO (THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME)

(Old Testament) Isaiah 9:1 But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Those who wait for the Lord will not be disappointed. He will arrive in His time. And He will bring riches beyond measure for those who love Him. You love Him by obeying His commands.

(New Testament) 1 Cor 1:10 Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. 12 What I mean is that each of you says, “I belong to Paul,” or “I belong to Apollos,” or “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.

Divisions in Christianity, especially over doctrine, is contrary to the will of Christ. Christ prayed that all who wish to follow Him to be as one. St. Paul also points out that it doesn’t matter who baptizes you, or matter which priest hears your Confession. The priest is not the source of the grace of the sacraments, it is Christ.

(Gospel) Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 16 the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

St Peter, St Andrew, St James and St John all knew each other. They were ready to follow Christ immediately because they had been masculine, holy men who encouraged each other in prayer, in living holy lives and encouraged each other to avoid sin and do the works of God. They had prepared themselves all their lives to be ready, and when the time came for Jesus to visit them, they were spiritually, mentally and physically ready to follow Him. Men, find you a group of men who will challenge and encourage you to live holier lives and to be the men that Christ wants of you. Pray, work out, work hard at your job, care for your families, turn off the electronics, lead your family in praying the rosary, and start being serious about your souls and serious about God.

Men, remember that you are the bishop of your family and it is your duty and obligation to lead your family in their walk in the Christian faith. Do your job.