Sunday Sermon - 2.4.24
LATIN MASS: SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY
EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 11:19 For you gladly suffer the foolish; whereas yourselves are wise. 20 For you suffer if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take from you, if a man be lifted up, if a man strike you on the face. 21 I speak according to dishonour, as if we had been weak in this part. Wherein if any man dare (I speak foolishly), I dare also. 22 They are Hebrews: so am I. They are Israelites: so am I. They are the seed of Abraham: so am I. 23 They are the ministers of Christ (I speak as one less wise): I am more; in many more labours, in prisons more frequently, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. 24 Of the Jews five times did I receive forty stripes, save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea. 26 In journeying often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils from my own nation, in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils from false brethren. 27 In labour and painfulness, in much watchings, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Besides those things which are without: my daily instance, the solicitude for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is scandalized, and I am not on fire? 30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things that concern my infirmity. 31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is blessed for ever, knoweth that I lie not. 32 At Damascus, the governor of the nation under Aretas the king, guarded the city of the Damascenes, to apprehend me. 33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and so escaped his hands.
12:1 If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed), but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), 4 That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter. 5 For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities.
6 For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me. 7 And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. 8 For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Humility is a virtue that no one will see Heaven without. Only someone who is humble will actually repent of their sins and turn towards God. St. Paul was certainly humble and repented of his sins after his encounter with Christ. Yet here he lays out facts about his many missionary journeys which some could think was prideful. But was it? The answer is no. Here St. Paul is being challenged by others who question his authority and legitimacy. They were tempting the Corinthians to stop listening to Paul and to listen to them instead. So Paul lays out the truth of what he has done in his missionary work for the whole world including the Corinthians.
Something we must watch out for, in addition to the sin of pride, and false humility. When we are afraid to state the truth about accomplishments we have actually done is false humility. Speaking the truth when needed is not pride. St. Paul didn’t brag about these things he had done, but kept quiet on them. But at this moment, it was necessary to state the truth without equivocation to the Corinthians. He needed them to know the truth so that they would keep listening to him and stop listening to the false teachers attacking Paul.
True humility still recognizes the need for honesty and truthfulness. Especially when there is some matter of grave importance. Even Our Lord was humble and meek, hiding His Divinity under His humanity. Yet even He showed His true Divine nature at the Transfiguration because it was needed then.
GOSPEL: Luke 8:4 And when a very great multitude was gathered together, and hastened out of the cities unto Him, He spoke by a similitude. 5 The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. 6 And other some fell upon a rock: and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And other some fell among thorns, and the thorns growing up with it, choked it. 8 And other some fell upon good ground; and being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold. Saying these things, He cried out: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 9 And His disciples asked Him what this parable might be. 10 To whom He said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the Kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing may not understand.
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 And they by the way side are they that hear; then the devil cometh, and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. 13 Now they upon the rock, are they who when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no roots; for they believe for a while, and in time of temptation, they fall away. 14 And that which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit. 15 But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.
Is your soul ready to listen to the word of God and produce fruit? Are you ready to act on the command of God to do the good works He has placed before you? Or are you going to stand by and let the word of God wither and die in your soul?
Choose wisely which type of soil you will make of your soul. Clear out the temptations, sins and distractions of the world. Go to Confession, pray, fast and give alms. Till the soil of your heart to clear out the evil weeds and thorns so that God’s word may grow abundantly in your soul. We are soon about to enter into Lent and now is the time to get ready for it.
NOVUS ORDO: FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OLD TESTAMENT: Job 7:1 “Do not human beings have a hard service on earth, and are not their days like the days of a laborer? 2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like laborers who look for their wages, 3 so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. 4 When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I rise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing until dawn. 5 My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out again. 6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to their end without hope. 7 “Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.
Our lives are brief and every morning that we wake up, we are one day closer to our death and Judgment Day. Waste no more time because you are not promised to live until tomorrow. Today is a day acceptable to God. Today is day acceptable for salvation. Repent now and beg God for His mercy and forgiveness. Now is the time to start doing the good works of God. Do not delay
NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Corinthians 9:16 16 If I proclaim the Gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the Gospel! 17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the Gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the Gospel.
19 For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the Law I became as one under the Law (though I myself am not under the Law) so that I might win those under the Law. 21 To those outside the Law I became as one outside the Law (though I am not free from God’s Law but am under Christ’s Law) so that I might win those outside the Law. 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the Gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.
St. Paul went out of his way to make sure that he caused no obstacles to be placed in front of people as he preached the Gospel. Make sure you do the same. Everyone you speak to needs to see in your life that you have changed your ways. Those you wish to be converted to God must see in YOUR life that you have converted. Make sure you are behaving as a beloved child of God so that you do not cause scandal to others. Do not let your sins cause others to ignore the Gospel.
GOSPEL: Mark 1:29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to Him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is searching for You.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And He went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Our Lord can cure any illness and cure an possession by the demons. Our Lord is master of all creation. He longingly wants to heal us. While physical healing is not promised to us in this life, Our Lord absolutely promises to give us spiritual healing, if we would just ask for it. Free yourself from the demons that surround and tempt you. They have power over you when you have mortal sin on your soul. Get yourself to the Divine Physician and be healed of your sins. Let Him free you from the demons.
Thank you 🙏 I have struggled to understand St. Paul and you are opening up my old mind to his preaching. God bless you.