Sunday Sermon 3.5.23
LATIN MASS: SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
EPISTLE: 1 Thessalonians 4:1 For the rest therefore, brethren, we pray and beseech you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us, how you ought to walk, and to please God, so also you would walk, that you may abound the more. 2 For you know what precepts I have given to you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication; 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour: 5 Not in the passion of lust, like the Gentiles that know not God: 6 And that no man overreach, nor circumvent his brother in business: because the Lord is the avenger of all these things, as we have told you before, and have testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto sanctification.
The will of God is that all people should be sanctified. God wants us holy as He Himself is holy. He wants us set apart from the world for Himself. This about what an incredible statement that is. He wants us for Himself, and wants us to be pure and perfect with Him. He wants to raise us up to a new level of holiness by sanctifying us and making us ever bigger reservoirs to hold the grace He wants to bestow on us.
But St. Paul warns about sin and uncleanness that can ruin our sanctification, and he specifically mentions the two sins that engulf most people. Those two sins are lust and greed. More people are sent to hell for these two sins than any other. They are the most common and are often the most tempting because everyone can experience them no matter their station in life. As Scripture says, the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6:10), and the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God (Romans 8:7). So root out all sin by going to Confession and getting your soul in a state of sanctification. Then keep it there by avoiding all sin and the near occasions of sin and by going to Confession at least monthly.
GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh unto Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart: 2 And He was transfigured before them. And His face did shine as the sun: and His garments became white as snow. 3 And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him. 4 And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if Thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased: hear ye Him. 6 And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not. 8 And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of Man be risen from the dead.
When Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, he took with him three men. Moses then entered the cloud where God would speak with him personally. This is where God gave to Moses the Ten Commandments (the word of God) and the laws of the Old Covenant. After spending time with God on Mt. Sinai, the face of Moses began to shine and radiate light. So much so that Moses had to cover his face with a veil when he was with the Israelites because it frightened them so much.
Now we see Jesus, who is the Word of God, who goes up on another mountain with three men. Moses appears (representing the Old Covenant) and Elijah (representing the prophets and fulfilling the prophesy of Malachi 4). Here Peter asks about building tabernacles for them, mirroring the Festival of Tabernacles in the Old Covenant. Jesus is Transfigured before them. Moses was a prefigurement of Christ, and now that Christ is here, He gives us some much greater than the Old Covenant with God. Just as Moses’ face began to radiate, the entirety of Christ is Transfigured because He is greater than Moses. Just as Moses gave us the Old Covenant, Christ now gives us His New Covenant. Moses gave the people the Law, and Jesus we see in the Sermon on the Mount, gives a higher level of moral behavior in the Christian faith, because He is God and has the authority to change the Law of Moses.
NOVUS ORDO: SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
OLD TESTAMENT: Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
Anyone who thinks they may be too old or too advanced in years to be of much use to God, or that you cannot hope to produce much fruit for the Kingdom of God, look closely. Abram (who would become the Patriarch Abraham) was only called by God when he was SEVENTY FIVE! Abram had prepared himself for God’s call for all of his life and was an old man when God chose him. At any age we can be of use to God for the building up of His Kingdom. Even if our contribution is our old age is limited to a life of prayer, do not give up. I know of holy men and women who are very advanced in their years and yet they perform an indulgence every single day and offer it for a holy soul in Purgatory! So make yourself always ready and lead a holy life so that you are always ready when God calls you.
NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Timothy 1:8 Do not be ashamed, then, of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Your holy calling is to suffer for the gospel. There are a myriad of ways to suffer for the Gospel. Our crosses can be many and they can vary from very small ones to very large ones. Join with St. Paul and all the other saints and ask God to bless you by giving you an opportunity to suffer for His Gospel. (This is one prayer He will always answer.)
GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is My Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus Himself alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
See above for commentary on this passage