Was there a good point made in the sermon you heard at the Mass that fulfilled your Sunday Obligation? What was it?
There are a lot of people who don’t get many good points in the sermons they must endure.
I did not have a parish Mass today.
If I had, what might I have said?
Today the Lord changes water to wine, intervening at a wedding at the request of His Mother. It is the Lord’s first public miracle. It underscores the Lord’s identity at the Bridegroom, for it was the responsibility of the groom to provide wine.
It also foreshadows that He is going to die, given his reference to “His hour” in the context of a banquet in which there will be superabundant wine.
It also points to the role that Mary has in Christ’s ongoing ministry: the Mother of the King is a powerful intercessor.
The Church has associated three moments as revelations of Christ’s divinity, the changing of water to wine goes with the voice from heaven at His baptism and also the adoration of the Magi. These are all clumped around Epiphany.
Ancient Jewish brides used to wear crowns that looked like the city walls of Jerusalem and the groom dressed in garments like a priest’s vestments. I might have then circled back to the nuptial imagery, and spoken about the mystery of unveiling and perhaps also the role of the worshiper at Mass at one who participates, yes, in the Sacrifice, but also in the wedding of the Bridegroom, Christ, with the New Jerusalem:celebration. This has implications for our participation at every Holy Mass.
A couple thoughts off the top of my head.
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OF, so John 1:29-34, AND Christian Unity Week.
‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. …’ : main point –
These are the same words, used before Communion. Do you truly believe that that is actually Jesus, the sacrificial Lamb. You may say you do, but does your behaviour in church show your belief.
This is the belief around which we establish out unity.
And followed up with EP “the Church on the path to Unity” with particular emphasis on passage such as “… we show forth the paschal Sacrifice of Christ that has been handed on to us ”'”
Our Associate offered a cracker jack homily today. (NO Mass.) He first pointed out that St. John the Baptist’s identification of Jesus as the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,” was an audacious identification, and in support, he pointed out the many times the scribes and Pharisees thought Our Lord a blasphemer because he forgave sins, which was a capacity reserved to God alone. Father recounted other passages in the Gospel accounts where others identified Our Lord as the Son of God. He then encouraged us to focus our attention on two points in the Mass in this regard. First, at the consecration, to interiorly identify “My Lord and my God” in the words of St. Thomas the Apostle when the priest elevates the host. Then, in responding to “Behold the Lamb of God…,” to again acknowledge Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in our response (“Lord, I am not worthy…”).
Father then shifted gears to encourage us to pray and fast for three things this week: (1) Christian unity, (2) our Pastor, who is on his annual retreat (and he pointed out that a Pastor is entrusted with the salvation of all of the souls of those who live within the geographic boundaries of his parish, which in our case comprises some 11,000 souls), and (3) an end to abortion.
John the Baptist later says “He must increase; I must decrease”. This is the opposite of the message the world gives us which wants us to increase and God to decrease. He went on to talk about abortion and gave the number of lives lost since Roe in 1973 and how it was larger than the population of California and New York state combined. Also to pray for those women who were contemplating an abortion and how they need our help.
from the second reading “Grace to you, and peace”. “Grace” was the pagan greeting, while “peace” was the Jewish greeting. St. Paul represents the Church by embracing pagans and Jews alike to come to know the Lord.
good segue into a new initiative. folks are going to be going through the neighborhood knocking on doors saying “I’m N from St. Ipsydipsy’s Catholic Church, may i pray for you for anything?”
EF Mass:
At the wedding feast, we see the only words of scripture directly addressed from Our Lady to us. “Do whatever He tells you” is the fundamental aspect of our spiritual lives. Without total, NOT PARTIAL, deference to God’s will, things are not going to work out.
We celebrated our patron St. Remigius and so had different readings. I told the story of St. Remy’s encounter with the conquering Franks, and his decision to develop a good relationship, which lead to the baptism of Clovis and, ultimately, his kingdom, which became France. Bishop Remy changed the world by being faithful and sharing the faith; we can do the same, even if it seems only small seeds that are planted.