Sunday Sermon - 8.18.24
LATIN MASS: THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
EPISTLE: Galatians 3:16 To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed. He saith not, And to his seeds, as of many: but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. 17 Now this I say, that the Testament which was confirmed by God, the Law which was made after four hundred and thirty years, doth not disannul, to make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance be of the Law, it is no more of promise. But God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 Why then was the Law? It was set because of transgressions, until the seed should come, to whom He made the promise, being ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not of one: but God is one. 21 Was the Law then against the promises of God? God forbid. For if there had been a Law given which could give life, verily justice should have been by the Law. 22 But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise, by the faith of Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe.
Remember that testament means covenant. So we must remember that the Old Covenant was given before the Mosaic Law was given. The Old Covenant, which was transformed by Christ into the New Covenant at the Last Supper, stood on its own for many centuries. The sign of the Covenant was circumcision which is how a man and his family was enrolled in the Covenant. It was relatively simple because it was circumcision and animal sacrifice given to God as worship.
The Covenant was added to during the Exodus as God detailed more how He wanted to be worshipped to also include remembering the salvation He brought by leading the Israelites out of Egypt and slavery. It was still pretty straightforward at this time until the Israelites reached Mount Sinai. It was there that God gave the Ten Commandments. Still again everything is pretty simple. But it was also here that the Israelites decided to worship the golden calf and violate the very FIRST of the Ten Commandments. It was because of this that God enacted the Law. This is where the need for the requirements of the Law arose. This is where the detailed rules and commands of the book of Leviticus were enacted. God’s own people needed the Law to keep them in line because they refused to obey what was simple.
GOSPEL: Luke 17:11 And it came to pass, as He was going to Jerusalem, He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He entered into a certain town, there met Him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; 13 And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 Whom when He saw, He said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God. 16 And he fell on his face before His feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? 18 There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. 19 And He said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.
The nine who belonged to God’s own people, the Israelites, did not come back and glorify God for His miracle. It was only the Samaritan, who belonged to the people who rebelled against God and the worship He commanded. As Scripture says, mercy triumphs over judgment. So if we ask Christ for mercy with a reverent and penitential heart, He will listen and show mercy. We must also in return thank Him for His mercy and show that same mercy towards others.
The will of God is simple. As Jesus says, His burden is light. All the commandments can be summed up in the two great commands to love God with all that we have and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Participating in the sacraments is simple, we just need to do it. Forgiving others is simple, but not often easy. We still need to do it. Doing good works is simple but not often easy. We still need to do it.
NOVUS ORDO: TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OLD TESTAMENT: Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls from the highest places in the town, 4 “You that are simple, turn in here!” To those without sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Lay aside immaturity, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
The seven pillars referred to here are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are the gifts we receive from the Holy Ghost in the sacrament of Confirmation. The seven gifts are:
Wisdom - the ability to exercise good judgment and distinguish between right and wrong. It seeks to uphold truth and justice
Understanding - the gift of intelligence and enlightenment. The ability to perceive, comprehend and interpret information
Counsel - the gift of good advice. We are able to teach, guide, and instruct others properly
Fortitude - the gift of unfailing commitment to God and the proper course of action. It is moral strength, courage and determination.
Knowledge - this is the gift of the ability to study and learn. To acquire, retain and master more information and how to use it
Fear of the Lord - this is the gift of awe and reverence for God. It rightly orders our priorities to recognize the enormity and holiness of God and our rightful place in adoration of Him
Piety - this is the gift of personal holiness that is achieved by corresponding ourselves and conforming ourselves to God and His will.
NEW TESTAMENT: Ephesians: 5:15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil. 17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In relation to the first reading from Proverbs, we must conform ourselves to God and live as He commands. We must give thanks to Him for all His glory and blessings. All things must be secondary and in subjugation to our relationship with Him. All pleasures, comforts, enjoyments and merriment must be secondary to Him. Everything must be in moderation and focused on directing us back to Him
Notice in the passage that it says to not get drunk on wine. It does not say not to drink wine. Those are two different things. We can enjoy the pleasures of this world because God is the one who gives them to us, but they must be used in conformity with His will and always in moderation. We can enjoy merriment but cannot go overboard into drunkeness or other uncontrolled immodesty.
GOSPEL: John 6:51 I am the living Bread that came down from Heaven. Whoever eats of this Bread will live forever; and the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My Flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His Flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you have no life in you. 54 Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55 for My Flesh is true food and My Blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat My Flesh and drink My Blood abide in Me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the Bread that came down from Heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this Bread will live forever.”
Everything comes back to and revolves around the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Faith, since the Eucharist is God Himself. He comes down from Heaven to be with mankind. He offers us the New Covenant in the Eucharist. We must choose to accept His Covenant and obey Him. He promises that if we do that, He will cleanse us of all our impurity and bring us to Heaven with Him for eternity.
Great summaries. I will keep these close because your words are understandable and your writing flows from Old Testament to the beautiful words of the “Bread of Life” discourse. Thank you and blessings for the week to come.