Sunday Sermon 4.30.23
LATIN MASS: THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
EPISTLE: 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from carnal desires which war against the soul, 12 Having your conversation good among the Gentiles: that whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by the good works, which they shall behold in you, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Be ye subject therefore to every human creature for God's sake: whether it be to the king as excelling; 14 Or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of the good: 15 For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not as making liberty a cloak for malice, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully.
We are to walk in holiness as servants and children of God. Even when we are reviled and persecuted because of our faith, we must return good for the evil we receive. This does not mean that evildoers cannot be punished, they absolutely can and must be punished, for the good of society and for their own good. We as Christians must emulate the holiness of Christ to all who see us, since we are the light of the world.
GOSPEL: Johns 16:16 A little while, and now you shall not see Me; and again a little while, and you shall see Me: because I go to the Father. 17 Then some of the disciples said one to another: What is this that He saith to us: A little while, and you shall not see Me; and again a little while, and you shall see Me, and, because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore: What is this that He saith, A little while? we know not what He speaketh. 19 And Jesus knew that they had a mind to ask Him; and He said to them: Of this do you inquire among yourselves, because I said: A little while, and you shall not see Me; and again a little while, and you shall see Me? 20 Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.
Our sorrows shall be turned into joy. Strive for true joy and do not strive for happiness. Joy comes with Christ and suffering with Him. Happiness is fleeting but joy can be eternal if we find that joy in Him who is eternal.
NOVUS ORDO MASS: FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
FIRST READING: Acts 2:14 But Peter, standing with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.
36 Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other Apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him.” 40 And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added. 42 They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Repent and be baptized so that your sins may be forgiven. Baptism is the promise for us and for our children. Save yourselves from this corrupt generation. These words are even more true today than they were just a few decades ago. Salvation is with Christ.
NEW TESTAMENT: 1 Peter 2:20 If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.” 23 When He was abused, He did not return abuse; when He suffered, He did not threaten; but He entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in His Body on the Cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Always be ready to suffer and endure for Christ. By His wounds are we healed. Be ready to pick up your cross daily to be freed from sins.
GOSPEL: John 10:1 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them.
7 So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before Me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Christ came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. This doesn’t mean we will have temporal wealth and riches here on earth. It means that we will have life in Heaven with Him for eternity if we listen to His voice and obey Him. We find our life in Him and no other thing or person.
Thank you 🙏