Sunday Sermon 5.7.23
LATIN MASS - FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER
EPISTLE: James 1:17 Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. 18 For of His own will hath He begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of His creatures. 19 You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. 20 For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God. 21 Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
These words so plainly state the truth about God and the gospel. We must put aside our wrath, uncleanness and naughtiness and embrace the virtues of God. The truth of the faith is simple, but hard to do in real life. God in His mercy has given us this righteous path to walk. We have to do the walking though. The good news is that He will be with us the entire time we are walking.
GOSPEL: John 16:5 But I told you not these things from the beginning, because I was with you. And now I go to Him that sent Me, and none of you asketh Me: Whither goest Thou? 6 But because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 But I tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go: for if I go not, the Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He is come, He will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment. 9 Of sin: because they believed not in Me. 10 And of justice: because I go to the Father; and you shall see Me no longer. 11 And of judgment: because the prince of this world is already judged. 12 I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. 13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will teach you all truth. For He shall not speak of Himself; but what things soever He shall hear, He shall speak; and the things that are to come, He shall shew you. 14 He shall glorify Me; because He shall receive of Mine, and shall shew it to you.
God the Father, through God the Son, have given to mankind God the Holy Ghost. We should always keep in mind the incredible gift given to us through Baptism and Confirmation. The Third Divine Person of the Holy Trinity is given to lowly mankind, so that if we abide and obey Him, we will be raised into the Divine life with Him. We will be “partakers of the Divine Nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Always be mindful of the holiness and magnificence that God is calling us towards.
NOVUS ORDO: FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
NEW TESTAMENT: Acts 6:1 Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the Twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word.” 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 The word of God continued to spread; the number of the disciples increased greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
This passage details the first degree of the sacrament of Holy Orders, the level of Deacon. These seven men were made into the first deacons of the Catholic Church. This is also why in Acts 8, this same Deacon Philip went to Samaria and preached the gospel and baptized people there. But they had to send for Peter and John (who were bishops) to give the sacrament of Confirmation to these people. That’s because Philip as a Deacon could baptize people but he could not give the sacrament of Confirmation.
EPISTLE: 1 Peter 2:4 Come to Him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and 5 like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in scripture: “See, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” 7 To you then who believe, He is precious; but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner,” 8 and “A stone that makes them stumble, and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
As mentioned above, God has plans to raise us up to the divine heights of glory. But we must be obedient to Him and do His will. We are the Church Militant and we are His royal priesthood. We are to offer our sacrifices to Him and we will become holy as He is holy.
GOSPEL: John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 If you know Me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know Me? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own; but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. 11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; but if you do not, then believe Me because of the works themselves. 12 Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. His is the ONLY way, truth and life. There is not other. There are no other paths to God. There are no other ways to Heaven. Everything else leads to hell. We must always keep our focus on Christ because He is truth itself. Everything else is falsehood. Stay with Christ.