The Sign of True Faith and Grace: Readings & Sermon for the Fourth Sunday After the Epiphany
The Mass readings for the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany are selected from the pre-1955 Missal of St. Pius X. Followed by the sermon of Monsignor Thomas Sebastian, Oratory Chapel of St. Francis of Assisi, Society of Christ the King.
INTROIT: Psalm 96:7 – 8
ADORE GOD, All you His Angels: Sion heard, and was glad: and the daughters of Juda rejoiced. Psalm 96:1 – 2. The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad. V. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be; world without end. Amen. ADORE GOD, All you His Angels: Sion heard, and was glad: and the daughters of Juda rejoiced.
EPISTLE: Romans 13:8 – 10
BRETHREN: Owe no man anything: but that you love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour, hath fulfilled the law. For, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and if there by any other commandment: it is comprised in this word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The love of thy neighbour, worketh no evil. Love, there is the fullness of the law.
GRADUAL and ALLELUIA: Psalm 101:16 – 17
THE GENTILES SHALL FEAR THY NAME, O Lord, and all the kings of the earth Thy glory. V. For the Lord hath build up Sion: and He shall be seen in His glory. Alleluia, Alleluia. V. Psalm 96:1 The Lord hath reigned let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad. Alleluia.
GOSPEL: St. Matthew 8:23 – 27
AT THAT TIME: when JESUS entered into the boat, and His Disciples followed Him: And lo, a great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with waves, but He slept. And they came to Him, and raised Him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish. And JESUS saith to them: Why art ye so fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up He commanded the winds and the sea, and there ensued a great calm. Moreover the men marveled saying: What an One is this, for the winds and the sea to obey Him?
OFFERTORY VERSE: Psalm 117:16, 17
THE RIGHT HAND of the Lord hath wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord hath exalted me: I shall not die, but live, and shall declare the works of the Lord.
COMMUNION VERSE: St. Luke 4:22
ALL WONDERED AT THESE THINGS which proceeded from the mouth of God.
SERMON of Monsignor Sebastian:
And they came to Him, and awaked Him, saying: Lord, save us, we perish. And Jesus saith to them: Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then rising up He commanded the winds, and the sea, and there came a great calm. S. Matthew 8:25 – 26
THIS morning the Holy Church wants to teach us about the Theological Virtue of Faith (cf. I Corinthians 13:13), most especially faith in Our Lord and King Jesus Christ, Who is Master over all creation and over all the laws of nature (cf. Proverbs 8:28 – 29). The Apostles, there in the very presence of Our Lord, are pusillanimous and fearful for their material lives, so they betray the Lord by waking Him rather than trusting Him. This must be a great lesson for us, most especially in our own time: during great disturbances, physical as well as spiritual, we must keep our peace, which is a sign of true faith and grace. Internal disturbances show a lack of faith and peace, therefore a lack of grace. Our Lord admonishes His Apostles and us: we have little faith. We must not be surprised by troubles; the Christian, like fine gold, will be tested and purified by fire, as the Prince of the Apostles teaches us: that the trial of your faith (much more precious than gold which is tried by the fire) may be found unto praise and glory and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ (I S. Peter 1:7).
Fear is not of God, as the great and Holy Moses teaches us: Do manfully and be of good heart: fear not, nor be ye dismayed at [the sight of thy enemies]: for the Lord thy God, He Himself is thy leader, and will not leave thee nor forsake thee (Deuteronomy 31:6). The Apostle confirmed this when he teaches us that God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of sobriety (I S. Timothy 1:7). If you fear for this life more than you fear for your immortal soul, you are unworthy of Christ, as Our Lord Himself proclaims: And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth Me, is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for Me, shall find it (S. Mathew 10:38 – 39). We are not greater than our Divine Master; the servant is not greater than his Lord; neither is the Apostle greater than He that sent him (S. John 13:16). We must remember that if this world hates us and seeks to harm or kill us, it hated Our Lord first, and sought His life fist (cf. S. John 15:18)!
When we see our loved ones and comrades in the spirit of fear we must confirm them in the faith of Christ the King, we must rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation and instant in prayer (Romans 12:12); but if you lack faith how can you hope to help them? As we learn in first Philosophy nemo dat quod non habet!
This Gospel event gives us another lesson as well: the boat is for us a symbol of Christ’s Church, the Barque of Salvation, filled with His Apostles, the Bishops and Princes of the Holy Church. One of the Church’s Four Marks is her Apostolicity, that is, valid and true Bishops to pass on the Holy Faith and the faithful and correct transmission of the Sacraments. This is why the Prost-ants do not have the true faith, for without Apostles there is no Church; as S. Ignatius of Antioch teaches us, where the Bishop is, there is the Church. And while many times, the Bishops, human and weak as all men are, may be cowards or wicked, if they cooperate with the grace of Christ they may still be instruments of God’s grace. This is why we must always pray for our Bishops, who have a great responsibility to carry the faith, even at the cost of their own lives, as Our Lord says: unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required (S. Luke 12:48). And all the while our Princes do good or do evil, Our Lord protects and guides His Church and keeps her holy. Again looking to today, the majority of the Bishops, if they are indeed even real Bishops, are weak and corrupt and have betrayed all that Our Blessed Lord has entrusted to them. Yet there remain a few who stand firm in and with Christ; and Our Great High King, Jesus Christ, will not fail them; because the evil one cannot destroy what God has set up to last forever, as He promises: the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Holy Church (cf. S. Matthew 16:18)!
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We love you. Save souls. Amen.
