As Fr. Jojo Zerrudo
preached in his sermon in the last official day of the Christmas Season:
"The days of feasting are over. The days of fasting draw near." The
readings and propers of both Forms of the Mass are beginning to show its
penitent character.
Indeed, the days of
fasting draw near.
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READINGS AND PROPERS
Extraordinary
Form (Septuagesima Sunday)
INTROIT ¤ Ps. 17. 5-7
Circumdederunt
me gemitus mortus, dolores inferni circumdederunt me: et in tribulatione mea
invocavi Dominum, et exaudivit de templo sancto suo vocem meam. -- Diligam
te, Domine, fortitudo mea: Dominus firmamentum meum, et refugium meum, et
liberator meus. V.: Gloria Patri . . . -- Circumdederunt me gemitus . . .
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The sorrows of death surrounded
me, the sorrows of hell encompassed me; and in my affliction I called upon
the Lord, and He heard my voice from His holy temple. -- (Ps.17. 2, 3). I will love Thee, O Lord, my
strength: the Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer. V.: Glory be
to the Father . . . -- The sorrows of death surrounded me . . .
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The Gloria in Excelsis is not said.
COLLECT.--Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O
Lord, the prayers of Thy people, that we, who are justly afflicted for our
sins, may for the glory of Thy Name, be mercifully delivered. Through our
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of
the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
EPISTLE ¤ 1 Cor. 9. 24-27; 10. 1-5
Lesson
from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.
[The Apostle St. Paul compares our life to an arena where we
must fight and mortify ourselves, if we wish to obtain the victory.]
Brethren,
Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth
the prize? So run that you may obtain. And every one that striveth for the
mastery refraineth himself from all things; and they indeed that they may
receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible one. I therefore so run,
not as at an uncertainty; I so fight, not as one beating the air: but I chastise my body, and bring it
into subjection: lest perhaps when I have preached to others, I myself should
become a castaway. For I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that our
fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all in
Moses were baptized, in the cloud and in the sea: and
did all eat the same spiritual food, and drank the same spiritual drink: (that
they drank of the spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.)
But with most of them God was not well pleased.
GRADUAL ¤ Ps. 101. 16-17
Adjutor
in opportunitatibus, in tribulatione: sperent in te, quo noverunt te: quoniam
non derelinquis quaerentes te, Domine. V.: Quoniam non in finem oblivio erit
pauperis: patientia pauperum non peribit in aeternum: exsurge, Domine, non
praevaleat homo.
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A
Helper in due time in tribulation: let them trust in Thee who know Thee: for
Thou hast not forsaken them that seek Thee, O Lord. V.: For the poor man
shall not be forgotten to the end: the patience of the poor shall not perish
for ever: arise, O Lord, let not man prevail.
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TRACT ¤ Ps. 129. 1-4
De
profundis clamavi ad te, Domine: Domine, exaudi vocem meam. V.: Fiant aures
tuae intendentes in orationem servi tui. V.: Si iniquitates observaveris,
Domine: Domine, quis sustinebit? V.: Quia apud te propitiatio est, et propter
legem uam sustinui te, Domine.
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Out
of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord: Let Thine ears be attentive to
the prayer of Thy servant. V.: If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities: Lord,
who shall stand it? V.: For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness, and by
reason of Thy law I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
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GOSPEL ¤ Matth. 20. 1-16
†
Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
[The parable of the vineyard shows us that we must all work to
obtain the reward of eternal life.]
At
that time Jesus spoke to His disciples this parable: The kingdom of God is like
to a householder who went out early in the morning to hire laborers in his
vineyard. And having agreed with the laborers
for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about
the third hour, he saw others standing
in the market place idle, and he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard,
and I will give you what shall be just. And they went their way. And again he
went out about the sixth and ninth hour:
and did in like manner. But about the eleventh
hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why
stand you here all the day idle? The say to him: Becase no man hath hired us.
He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard. And when evening was come, the
lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the laborers and pay them their
hire, beginning from the last even to the first.
When therefore they were come that came about the eleventh hour, they received
every man a penny. But when the first also came, they thought that they should
receive more: and they also received every man a penny. And receiving it they
murmured against the master of the house, saying: These last have worked but
one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us that have borne the burden of the
day and the heats. But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong; didst thou not agree with
me for a penny? Take what is thine and go thy way: I will also give to this
last even as to thee. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? Is thine
eye evil, because I am good? So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.
OFFERTORY ¤ Ps. 91. 2
Bonum
est confiteri Domino, et psallere nomini tuo, Altissime.
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It
is good to give praise to the Lord, and to sing to Thy Name, O Most High.
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SECRET.--Receive our offerings and prayers, we
beseech Thee, O Lord, and both cleanse us by these heavenly mysteries, and
graviously hear us. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and
reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
PREFACE
Preface of the Most Holy Trinity
Vere
dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare, nos tibi semper, et ubique gratias
agere: Domine sancte, Pater omnipotens, aeterne Deus. Qui cum unigenito Filio
tuo, et Spiritu Sancto, unus es Deus, unus es Dominus: non in unius singularitate
personae, sed in unius Trinitate substantiae. Quod enim de tua gloria,
revelante te, credimus, hoc de Filio tuo, hoc de Spiritu Sancto, sine
differentia discretionis sentimus. Ut in confessione verae, sempiternaeque
Deitatis, et in personis proprietas, et in essentia unitas, et in majestate
adoretur aequalitas. Quam laudant Angeli atque Archangeli, Cherubim quoque ac
Seraphim: qui non cessant clamare quotidie, una voce dicentes:
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It
is truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, that we should at all
times, and in all places, give thanks unto Thee, O holy Lord, Father
almighty, everlasting God; Who, together with Thine only-begotten Son, and
the Holy Ghost, art one God, one Lord: not in the oneness of a single Person,
but in the Trinity of one substance. For what we believe by Thy revelation of
Thy glory, the same do we believe of Thy Son, the same of the Holy Ghost,
without difference or separation. So that in confessing the true and
everlasting Godhead, distinction in persons, unity in essence, and equality
in majesty may be adored. Which the Angels and Archangels, the Cherubim also
and Seraphim do praise: who cease not daily to cry out, with one voice
saying:
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COMMUNION ¤ Ps. 30. 17-18
Illumina
faciem tuam super servum tuum, et salvum me fac in tua misericordia: Domine,
non confundar, quoniam invocavi te.
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Make
Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and save me in Thy mercy: let me not be
confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon Thee.
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POSTCOMMUNION.--May Thy faithful people, O God,
be strengthened by Thy gifts; that in receiving them, they may seek after them
the more, and in seeking them, may receive them for ever. Through our Lord
Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the
Holy Ghost: One God, world without end.
Ordinary
Form (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Prophecy: Sir. 15:15-20
God added His
commandments and precepts. If
thou wilt keep the commandments and perform acceptable fidelity for ever, they
shall preserve thee. He hath set water and fire before thee: stretch
forth thy hand to which thou wilt. Before man is life and death, good and evil,
that which he shall choose shall be given him: For the wisdom of God is great,
and he is strong in power, seeing all men without ceasing. The eyes of the Lord are towards
them that fear him, and he knoweth all the work of man.
Responsorial: Ps. 119: 1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
R: Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord.
Blessed are the
undefiled in the way,
who walk in the law
of the Lord.
Blessed are they
that search his testimonies:
that seek him with
their whole heart.
Thou hast commanded thy commandments
to be kept most diligently.
O! that my ways may be directed
to keep thy justifications.
Give bountifully to
thy servant, enliven me:
and I shall keep thy
words.
Open thou my eyes:
and I will consider
the wondrous things
of thy law.
Set before me for a
law the way of thy justifications, O Lord:
and I will always
seek after it.
Give me
understanding, and I will search thy law;
and I will keep it
with my whole heart.
Epistle: I Cor. 2:6-10
Brethren: Howbeit we
speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of
the princes of this world that come to nought. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which
is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory: Which none of
the princes of this world knew. For if they had known it, they would
never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written: That eye hath
not seen, nor ear heard: neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what
things God hath prepared for them that love him. But to us God hath revealed
them by his Spirit. For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things
of God.
Gospel: Mt. 5: 17-37
At that time, Jesus
said to His disciples: "Do
not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to
destroy, but to fulfill. For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth
pass, one jot, or one title shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled. He therefore that shall break one of
these least commandments, and shall so teach men shall be called the least in
the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, that unless your justice
abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into
the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that
it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill,
shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, that whosoever is angry with his brother, shall be in
danger of the judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be
in danger of the council. And whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in
danger of hell fire. If therefore thou offer thy gift at the altar, and
there thou remember that thy brother hath anything against thee; Leave there
thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled to thy brother,
and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift. Be
at agreement with thy adversary betimes, whilst thou art in the way with him:
lest perhaps the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver
thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Amen I say to thee, thou shalt not
go out from thence till thou repay the last farthing.
You have heard that
it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not commit adultery. But I say to you, that whosoever
shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with
her in his heart. And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and
cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should
perish, rather than thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right hand
scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for
thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body go
into hell. And it hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him
give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, excepting the cause of fornication,
maketh her to commit adultery: and he that shall marry her that is put away,
committeth adultery.
Again you have heard
that it was said to them of old, thou shalt not forswear thyself: but thou
shalt perform thy oaths to the Lord. But I say to you not to swear at all, neither by heaven for it is the throne of
God: Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem, for it is the
city of the great king: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou
canst not make one hair white or black. But let
your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and above these, is of
evil.
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REFLECTIONS AND INSIGHTS
The Son of Sirach
said: If thou wilt keep the
commandments…they shall preserve thee (15:16). And the Psalmist concurs: Blessed are they who walk in the law
of the Lord (119 [118]:1).
As we reflect the
readings in the Ordinary Form, we realize that it is about the Commandments and
how our Lord fulfilled and perfected it. In the Epistle, St. Paul exhorts that
keeping them is following the wisdom of God.
As for the Gospel:
since we believe that Jesus is God, He today fulfills the Commandments He Himself gave to Moses. It
can be divided into four parts:
First is about the summary of His public ministry. It is quite
evident that Jesus told the crowds right from the very start that He came
"not to destroy the Commandments, but to fulfill it." And He did this
by symplifying it to the point that He gave cases of violations of such.
Second: He
promulgated that anger and
bitterness as a sin against the Fifth Commandment. He told the disciples
that anger, bitterness, and even envy is considered murder: that is, murder against one's name and
reputation. This can also be (obviously) applicable to the Fourth and
Eighth Commandments for the aforementioned reasons.
Third: Jesus considered lust, and even
greed and avarice as a sin against the Sixth Commandment, and can be extended
also for the Ninth in a direct manner, and for the Seventh and Tenth in an
indirect one. In the Epistle of the Old Form, St. Paul exhorted to the
Corinthians in his first letter that our life on earth is but a struggle. In
order to be victorious, we must immerse ourselves in mortification, that even
him who is the Apostle to the Gentiles is subject to it.
Finally: Jesus defined swearing as a sin
against the Second Commandment, as well as the First and the Third. Now,
many non-Catholic Bible extremists say that oaths that have the lines "…do
solemnly swear…" and "…So help me God." are against what the
Lord said when He said not to swear at all "neither by heaven for it is
the throne of God: Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem,
for it is the city of the great king: Neither shalt thou swear by thy head,
because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your speech be yea, yea: no, no: and that which is over and
above these, is of evil" (Mt. 5:34-37). But this is too extreme an explanation, even unorthodox.
What the Lord really meant was very simple: Never to use the name of the Lord in vain. We can
also say that swearing is also another form of
pride and sloth, since we say such vain words, yet oftentimes we do not fulfill
them, especially if it is a promise.
These three
divisions of Christ's teachings are really hard ones, since He covered all ten
of the Commandments He gave to Moses back then. You and I cannot escape the guilt we feel whenever we hear
or read this portion of the Gospels because it is meant to be a wake-up call to
all of us that if we choose to be brave by conquering this world as part of the
Empire of Christ, we must keep ourselves vigilant. That is why with only
a few weeks before Lent begins, the propers of the Extraordinary Form already
is in a penitent mood. That is the reason why purple is used starting
Septuagesima Sunday all the way to Holy Week.
In the Old Rite, we
reflect on the Gospel where Jesus told the parable of the vineyard, its lord
and its workers. We understand that God does
not care if we are called to the Church in an earlier or a later part of our
lives. The daily wage in that parable is synonymous to eternal life; and
this only shows that every
single soul on earth has a shot for glory that lasts--the one that our Lord is
giving to those who worked for Him. No matter if some work hard for the
Church or others lax in it, no
one is above the Lord or below those who work more for the Church.
In short: Elitism and careerism must be
avoided.
And in speaking of
careerism, we laud Pope Francis for reforming the conferring of the title
"Monsignor" by limiting it to priests aged 85 and above. However, we
also look forward to the day when His Holiness would require every diocese and
archdiocese in the world to bring back the Cathedral Chapter, or a council of
priests who closely collaborate with their local Ordinary (and of course,
wearing a black mantilla would be an extra point).
So, this is the
bottom line: Keeping the
Commandments is a must for us Christians. But it does not mean that being
involved in the Church will make us holier than those who, through no fault of
their own, cannot fully commit to the salvation of souls (i.e., those
who have day-jobs). Maybe instead of growing in holiness, full-time lay Church workers might grow out of it and
into a life of dichotomy if not checked, wherein one is only holy on
Sundays and leaves the thought of promoting God in the pews for the next six
days.
Now let us take the
example of St. Joseph. He is just an ordinary carpenter in Nazareth, yet he is
exalted by God for being the prince over the Child Jesus and Mary in their home
to make sure that their needs may be met. Of course, having the Lord of Heaven
as his ward was an extra advantage, but it is more of his obedience to God to
be the foster-father of the Word Incarnate and immersing Him to a life of
simplicity and poverty that made St. Joseph the champion of Christian families.
And since we are
still in that sense of giddiness that St. Valentine's Day brings (yes, people:
February 14th was the feast of a priest-martyr named Valentinus), we can still
apply the lesson of charity for this insight: that loving God means (1) obeying His statutes and (2) making efforts, no matter how small,
in persuading others to do so.
Besides, for God, every act of charity counts.
And so we ask
ourselves: Am I committed to
bravery by loving God by following the example of Christ, His Son, and Mary,
His handmaid, when it comes to keeping the commandments and making others do so
without discrimination?
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PRAYING THE COLLECT
Graciously hear, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the prayers of
Thy people, that we, who are justly afflicted for our sins, may for the glory
of Thy Name, be mercifully delivered. O Thou, who teacheth us that
Thou abideth in hearts that are just and true, grant that we may be so
fashioned by Thy grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to Thee.
Through
our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity
of the Holy Ghost: One God, world without end. Amen.
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