Sunday Sermon on Wednesday - 1.1.25
LATIN MASS: FEAST OF THE CIRCUMCISION
EPISTLE: Titus 2:11 For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; 12 Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world, 13 Looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to Himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
Jesus gave Himself for us, through the shedding of His own Blood. He cleanses us through His Blood. He cleanses all His people so they can be those who the good works of the Father. The shedding of His Blood was not limited to the Passion.
GOSPEL: Luke 2:21 And after eight days were accomplished, that the child should be circumcised, His name was called JESUS, which was called by the angel, before He was conceived in the womb.
Here we see the first shedding of the Blood by which we will be saved. Jesus is enrolled into the Old Covenant by the shedding of His own Blood in circumcision. The Old Covenant needed the shedding of Blood to bring the Israelites back into communion with God. It is the sign of the Covenant first given to Abraham and becomes the entrance rite for the Covenant established with Moses. Our Lord sheds His Blood to signify that both Old and New Covenant are sealed with His own Blood.
NOVUS ORDO: SOLEMNITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD
OLD TESTAMENT: Numbers 6:22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them, 24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace. 27 So they shall put My Name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
The Lord puts His Name on the Israelites in the Old Covenant. And now in the New Covenant, the Lord puts His Name onto our souls by our baptism. We are baptized in the NAME of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We carry the Name of God with us forever. So we should act like it.
NEW TESTAMENT: Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.
Just as discussed above, we are children of God and He is our Father. We carry the family name, we carry the Name of God through our baptism. Through our baptism, we become a child of God and an heir along with Christ. Never forget the Holy Name you carry around with you always. Never forget whose Name you are blessed with and uphold in holiness yourself so that you honor His Name.
GOSPEL: Luke 2:16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this Child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. 21 After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and He was called Jesus, the Name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
Let us all glorify God and thank Him endlessly. He was willing to shed His Blood under both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant to bring all people to Him. We must embrace the New Covenant and also uphold our responsibilities under the Covenant. If you have not been to Confession within the last month, starting the new year with a clean soul is always the correct answer.
Also I would encourage you to read this post about the Rosary: The Coronation of Mary