Sunday Sermon - 9.10.23
LATIN MASS: FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
EPISTLE: Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be made desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying on another.
6:1 Brethren, and if a man be overtaken in any fault, you, who are spiritual, instruct such a one in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another's burdens; and so you shall fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if any man think himself to be some thing, whereas he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every one prove his own work, and so he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another. 5 For every one shall bear his own burden. 6 And let him that is instructed in the word, communicate to him that instructeth him, in all good things. 7 Be not deceived, God is not mocked. 8 For what things a man shall sow, those also shall he reap. For he that soweth in his flesh, of the flesh also shall reap corruption. But he that soweth in the Spirit, of the Spirit shall reap life everlasting. 9 And in doing good, let us not fail. For in due time we shall reap, not failing. 10 Therefore, whilst we have time, let us work good to all men, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
So many messages in this small passage. First St. Paul to shun bragging or glorifying ourselves. He then reminds us to instruct and correct those who are in error through genuine ignorance, to correct them with meekness (power under control). He also reminds us that not only must we as a Church have corporate good works, but individually we must also have good works. We cannot think that we can ignore good works and count on the good works of the Church or parish as meeting Christ’s requirement for producing fruit. He also warns everyone that God is never mocked and what a man sows, so shall he reap. Christ will judge us for our works, good and bad. Finally he wraps up with a reminder to keep doing good works, especially for those in our household and those in the Church.
St Paul isn’t kidding here. Do not be deceived by those who promote the idea that Christ brings us cheap grace that requires nothing of us. Christ promised us a cross. He also promised that if we choose the cross, He will give us eternal life. Salvation is simple but it is not easy. Only those who endure to the end will be saved.
GOSPEL: Luke 7:11 And it came to pass afterwards, that He went into a city that is called Naim; and there went with Him His disciples, and a great multitude. 12 And when He came nigh to the gate of the city, behold a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow: and a great multitude of the city was with her. 13 Whom when the Lord had seen, being moved with mercy towards her, He said to her: Weep not. 14 And He came near and touched the bier. And they that carried it, stood still. And He said: Young man, I say to thee, arise. 15 And he that was dead, sat up, and began to speak. And He gave him to his mother. 16 And there came a fear on them all: and they glorified God, saying: A great prophet is risen up among us: and, God hath visited His people.
Christ is God. He is King of all the universe and He holds power over life and death. He doesn’t just tell us that He holds this power, but He shows it. We Christians take this for granted because we have heard the stories of Christ raising people from the dead. But really think about how stunning this truly is. Christ can and will raise our bodies at the Final Judgment. He will reunite our souls to our bodies, even for those who are damned to hell. Always ask for His mercy and keep going to Confession.
NOVUS ORDO: TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekial 33:7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, you shall give them warning from Me. 8 If I say to the wicked, “O wicked ones, you shall surely die,” and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
This one passage should strike fear in the hearts of 99% of our priests and bishops today, but it doesn’t. Here God is absolutely clear that those He gives special authority to and special graces to, He also gives them special responsibility. Our priests and bishops should be petrified because it almost guarantees them damnation, or at the very least they will spend decades or centuries in Purgatory (which will NOT be fun).
This warning also applies, but in a lesser degree, to all those who are baptized. If you see a man committing sin, it is a requirement upon you to warn them. If they heed your warning or not, that is up to them. But you are required to warn them that the fires of hell await them.
NEW TESTAMENT: Romans 13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the Law. 9 The Commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet”; and any other Commandment, are summed up in this word, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the Law.
St. Paul tells us very clearly that the Ten Commandments are still morally binding on those under the New Covenant. Elsewhere we see that the civil, ceremonial and liturgical laws of the Old Covenant have been ended. But the moral law of the Ten Commandments are still in force. In fact, in the New Covenant, not only are they still in effect, but Christ has raised them to an even higher standard. Now we must also abide by the two greatest commandments to love God and love our neighbor.
GOSPEL: Matthew 18:15 “If another member of the Church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the Church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven. 19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by My Father in Heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there among them.”
This teaching applies to everyone, no matter their office in the Church. All Christians are bound by the infallible and dogmatic teachings of the Church throughout her entire history. The teachings from the Council of Nicea, Ephesus, Constantinople and Trent are all still in force. So no Christian, no matter who they are in the Church, may reject any of these anathemas issued by the Councils.
For Protestants, this is one of the most ignored passages in the Bible. They ignore it because they cannot obey this command from Christ. Bob the Baptist cannot take Larry the Lutheran to the Church that Jesus built to show Larry that he is in doctrinal error. That’s because both men have rejected the authority of the Church, in direct disobedience to Christ.
Much spiritual food for thought in all the passages quoted this week. Good preparation for the Synod also. 🙏
Thank you.