Sunday Sermon - 8.27.23

LATIN MASS: THIRTEEN 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.

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Here St. Paul is discussing the differences between the Covenant/Testament which God made with Abraham, and the Law which was instituted by Moses when giving the Old Covenant and its decrees, liturgies and ordinances. This delineation, because they are not the same thing (the Law surrounds and upholds the Covenant but is not the Covenant itself), is why Christ can fulfill and transform the Old Covenant into the New Covenant. It is also why the ceremonial practices and dietary rules under the Law were ended. This is why the day of worship is no longer on the Sabbath (Saturday) but instead on the Lord’s Day (Sunday). The one true seed of Abraham, who is also the seed of Mary, is the true heir to the Promise given to Abraham. This is also why Our Lord is the one mediator of this New Covenant which reconciles mankind back to God.

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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.

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How often were those who were not Israelites the ones with the greatest faith in Our Lord? How often were they the only ones who thanked Him for His mercy and miracles? But this lesson needs to apply to us as well. Since we are the ones who are in His Catholic Church and have abundant access to His healing sacraments, are we thankful for His mercy and forgiveness? Are we thankful like the Samaritan or do we ignore Him like the other 9 Israelites?

Are we the ungrateful Catholics who approach the Eucharist thinking of everything BUT Him? And just down the road, Protestants who do not have Christ in the Eucharist are loudly proclaiming their thankfulness to Christ even when they are separated from the true faith (just like the Samaritans were).

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NOVUS ORDO: TWENTY FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 22:19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your post. 20 On that day I will call My servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah, 21 and will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him. I will commit your authority to his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David; he shall open, and no one shall shut; he shall shut, and no one shall open. 23 I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his ancestral house.

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God shows that He will grant His authority to men so that they can tend and feed His sheep. We as the sheep are to obey them in all their lawful commands where they have authority. God knows what He’s doing and He also knows there will be evil and corrupt men who hold these keys from time to time. He still set it up this way and He didn’t give us the authority to ignore any of those lawful commands, even the commands from evil or corrupt men.

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NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to Him, to receive a gift in return?” 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

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Everything is in God’s loving care and control. He will permit evil to exist and operate, but only for His greater glory and the salvation of many more. Even when there are evil men in positions of authority here on earth, we must pray for them to do the Father’s will, and pray for deliverance from these evil men. Trust in Our Lord. Nothing is hidden from Him and no evil will go unpunished.

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GOSPEL: Matthew 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in Heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter (Kepha), and on this rock (kepha) I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven.” 20 Then He sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that He was the Messiah.

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Not only does the Church have authority on earth, but that authority extends into Heaven. The Pope and Bishops have authority to bind and loose on earth AND in Heaven. Thankfully Our Lord will only permit and allow evil to reign for a limited time. We do not know when He will correct things, but it will eventually happen. Keep to the sacraments frequently, especially Confession and the Eucharist. Say your Rosary and read your Bible. Keep yourself always ready and in a state of grace.