Sunday Sermon 2.19.23
LATIN MASS: QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And if I should distribute all my goods to feed the poor, and if I should deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity is patient, is kind: charity envieth not, dealeth not perversely; is not puffed up; 5 Is not ambitious, seeketh not her own, is not provoked to anger, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth with the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never falleth away: whether prophecies shall be made void, or tongues shall cease, or knowledge shall be destroyed. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child. But, when I became a man, I put away the things of a child. 12 We see now through a glass in a dark manner; but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known. 13 And now there remain faith, hope, and charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity.
Charity (or love) is the greatest of the virtues. It is not faith, and you are not saved by faith alone, because you cannot be. If faith alone were true, then faith would be greater than love/charity. Finds some small acts of charity that you can perform for others. Review the list of the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and integrate them into your life.
Gospel: Luke 18:31-43 Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said to them: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man. 32 For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and scourged, and spit upon: 33 And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death; and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them, and they understood not the things that were said. 35 Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging. 36 And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. 38 And he cried out, saying: Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me. 39 And they that went before, rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: Son of David, have mercy on me. 40 And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him, 41 Saying: What wilt thou that I do to thee? But he said: Lord, that I may see. 42 And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole. 43 And immediately he saw, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.
The blind man had faith, and then acted upon it by repeatedly calling out for Christ. Even when others rebuked him and yelled at him, he kept calling out for Jesus even louder. His actions followed his faith and he acted on his faith. If you have all the faith in the world but do not act on it, you will not be saved. Christ will save those who act on their faith.
NOVUS ORDO: SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Old Testament: Leviticus 19:1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Loving our neighbor is incredibly hard. But we must do it. If you have some anger or resentment towards another, forgive them. If someone has wronged you, forgive them. And remember that forgiveness is an act of the will, it is not an emotion. When the judge hands down a sentence, it doesn’t matter how the judge feels about it but what decision they actually make. Go before Christ in the Blessed Sacrament and tell Him that you forgive anyone who has wronged you and you renounce there and then any vengeance upon them. Give it all over to Christ and ask Him to take this issue and let Him decide how it should be handled. He is the Perfect Judge and King of the Universe. Trust Him to make the correct decision about any sins committed against you. You just forgive others, even those who haven’t asked for forgiveness yet and move on with your life. This doesn’t mean you let yourself be abused again or put yourself in a bad situation, but it means giving up your vengeance and revenge and letting Christ handle it all.
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18 Do not deceive yourselves. If you think that you are wise in this age, you should become fools so that you may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” 20 and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21 So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.
Similar to the Old Testament reading. Give everything over to God. Go to Confession, and repent. Have your sins washed away and then forgive anyone who has sinned against you as well. Let your sins and the sins others have committed against you to leave your life. Give them all over to Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 5:38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; 40 and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; 41 and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. 42 Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,[o] what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Loving our neighbor is possible the hardest thing that Christ asks of us. But it is not optional. Jesus loves us AND He loves those who have wronged us. Forgive them and hand over to Christ all your hurts and sorrows. He can handle it and you will be free from your own sins and the sins others have committed against you.