Sunday Sermon - 8.20.23
LATIN MASS: TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
EPISTLE: 2 Corinthians 3:4 And such confidence we have, through Christ, towards God. 5 Not that we are sufficient to think any thing of ourselves, as of ourselves: but our sufficiency is from God. 6 Who also hath made us fit ministers of the New Testament, not in the letter, but in the Spirit. For the letter killeth, but the Spirit quickeneth. 7 Now if the ministration of death, engraven with letters upon stones, was glorious; so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, which is made void: 8 How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather in glory? 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more the ministration of justice aboundeth in glory.
What St. Paul is referencing here is how the face of Moses would radiate with a light after he spent time in the Presence of God on Mount Sinai. Just the very act of being in God’s Presence made his skin start to radiate so brightly that was uncomfortable for the people to look at directly. Moses had to wear a veil while talking with the people but would remove the veil when he visited the Lord. The sinfulness of the people made it painful for them to see even the after-effects of the glory of God. They weren’t even directly witnessing God’s glory and it was still painful to them to see just the afterglow.
This is man’s fallen state. Unless we are cleansed by God Himself through Confession, we are unable to be in God’s Presence. His holiness is too painful for the sinful to withstand. But the New Testament/Covenant has the sacraments which cleanse and purify our souls so that we can approach God and His glory in the Eucharist.
GOSPEL: Luke 10:23 And turning to His disciples, He said: Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see. 24 For I say to you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the things that you hear, and have not heard them. 25 And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting Him, and saying, Master, what must I do to possess eternal life? 26 But He said to him: What is written in the Law? How readest thou? 27 He answering, said: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind: and thy neighbour as thyself. 28 And He said to him: Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. 29 But he willing to justify himself, said to Jesus: And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead. 31 And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by. 32 In like manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by. 33 But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him; and seeing him, was moved with compassion. 34 And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two pence, and gave to the host, and said: Take care of him; and whatsoever thou shalt spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay thee. 36 Which of these three, in thy opinion, was neighbour to him that fell among the robbers? 37 But he said: He that shewed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: Go, and do thou in like manner.
Aren’t we all tempted to justify ourselves rather than admit our sins and failures to do good works? For context, the Samaritans and Jews despised each other. And yet here is Christ showing that your blood relations means so much less than how you behave and whom you show kindness and mercy towards. Acts of charity and mercy can be difficult, especially towards those we do not like or even hate. Christ loved us even while we hated Him. Go and do likewise.
NOVUS ORDO: TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 56:1 Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon My salvation will come, and My deliverance be revealed.
6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to Him, to love the Name of the Lord, and to be His servants, all who keep the Sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast My Covenant— 7 these I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
God always had it as His plan of salvation to include all people everywhere in the New Covenant. He used the Old Covenant to show His might, power and His ability to rescue people from every evil. He took the smallest group and made them His people and made them flourish. Even when they repeatedly violated His Covenant, He tried to win them back. He formed them for several thousand years so that they would be ready to hear and receive the New Covenant, and bring it to the rest of the world.
NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 11:13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry 14 in order to make my own people jealous, and thus save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead!
29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32 For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.
Everyone while they are still alive can repent of their evil and turn toward God. His New Covenant is open to everyone. The choice is right in front of you. Will you choose to obey or disobey God?
GOSPEL: Matthew 15:21 Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23 But He did not answer her at all. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
Yet again, someone who is not Jew reaches out to Christ incessantly for His mercy. Our Lord tests her faith by initially ignoring her. She didn’t receive an answer to her prayers immediately, so she kept on praying and praying even louder. She refused to stop asking Our Lord for His mercy. Her faith, plus her works, eventually led to Christ turning towards her and granting her prayer.
Be always vigilant in prayer. Pray the rosary every day.
Thank you for your weekly spiritual caring🙏 I will remember you in my daily rosary.