“FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT!"

The “Mass of the Ages,” follows the Church Calendar in use before the Church’s liturgical reform of 1970. The Christmas Cycle celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation. In the old calendar, however, the Easter Cycle celebrated the mystery of the Redemption with the seasons of Lent, Eastertide, and the “After Pentecost Season.”

Unlike the new calendar, there are three Sundays, which introduce the Season of Lent. They are: Septuagesima Sunday, meaning seventy days before Easter, Sexagesima Sunday, sixty days, and Quinquagesima Sunday, fifty days before Easter. Numerically, it doesn’t compute; it is not meant to. The purpose is to gradually introduce Christ’s Faithful to the holy season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday.

In the Introit of today’s Mass, the Church calls upon the Lord to deliver us for we are surrounded by dangers. “The sorrows of death. The Lord is my firmament, my refuge, and my deliverer.”

In the Collect, we plead for God to hear us in His gracious mercy. We acknowledge that we are “justly afflicted for our sins.” It is the Church’s cry for mercy, forgiveness. Filled with sorrow, we are in dire need of the Redemptive Act of Christ!

Then we begin the Liturgy of the Word, as it is now called. The Apostle Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, compares our life in this world to an arena. If we wish to obtain the final victory, we must fight and mortify ourselves constantly. Paul exhorts us to: “Run the good race! Fight the good fight!” Look at the athletes of this world who train and mortify their bodies for the corruptible prizes of money and fame. The Apostle reminds us that these fortunes, which are sought fervently by the world, will fade completely.

Saint Paul also tells us that he chastises his body in order to bring it sunder subjection: “Lest, having preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.” As disciples of the Lord, like Paul, we too must seek the incorruptible prize, which is eternal glory in heaven.

Today’s Gospel parable of the vineyard instructs us that all of us must work to obtain the reward of eternal life. Heaven is not automatic. Our labor must be fortified by the graces we receive at Mass, the Sacraments, and Catholic devotions.

Having been refreshed and strengthened by the Body and Blood of the Lord, we again pray for mercy in the Communion Prayer: “Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant, and save me in your mercy; let me not be confounded, O Lord, for I have called upon you.”

Notice how the Church’s liturgy prepares us for the holy seasons of Lent and Easter. Actually, it is a preparation for Calvary, for the Redemption. We begin by acknowledging our sinfulness as we pled for mercy and forgiveness. No place for psychological excuses here! We have sinned and our need for divine mercy is absolute.

The Mass ends with the Post Communion Prayer: “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 forever.”

When we follow the Mass by reflecting on the prayers and readings, we came to understand our need for the, “full and active participation” of the faithful.

Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.

"LET THE PEACE OF CHRIST REJOICE IN YOUR HEARTS!"

On that first Christmas night, the angels sang out: “JOY TO THE WORLD!” Saint Paul in his letter to the Colossians read on the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, exhorts us to have this joy and peace constantly. He invites the “Elect of God” to live holy and virtuous lives. If we are to be followers of Jesus, Paul tells us, we must live as Jesus taught us to live. Christian conduct must radiate “humility, modesty, patience: bearing with one another and forgiving one another.” Jesus, the Son of God, shows us the way.

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord commemorates the fact that Jesus Christ has made Himself known to mankind. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning a manifestation of divinity. Through the Church’s liturgy, the Holy Spirit gives us assurances us that the Child, born of the Virgin, is indeed the promised Messiah!

The Gospel on the Feast of the Epiphany relates the story of the Three Magi who came to adore Him. This is an EPIPHANY, a manifestation, that the Christ Child is the Son of God; He is a Divine Savior. It is the first of three historical events recorded in the Gospels to illustrate this fact. In the First Reading Isaiah tells us: "Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come . . . See, darkness covers the earth . . . but upon you the Lord shines."

Jesus Christ is "the Light of the World" who illumines a world filled with the darkness of sin. Our savior drives out the wickedness and evil of the world just as He dispelled the demons in the Gospels. As His followers, we must allow His grace to fill our hearts so that wickedness is driven out of our lives.

The second major epiphany, manifestation invoked by the liturgy is the Baptism of the Lord. As Jesus emerges from the baptismal waters, God the Father identifies Him. He also gives the corresponding obligation of accepting this revelation. "This is my beloved Son! Hear Him!" At every Mass, the Priest lifts high the Host and repeats the words of John the Baptist: "Ecce Angus Dei qui tollit peccata mundi - - - Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."

Our Lord's mission was the Redemption! This is why He came into the world. He did not come as a political, social or economic reformer. Indeed, if men would follow His Gospel, none of our social evils would exist. Yet, the Messiah’s essential mission was to save us from the dominion of Satan, slavery to sin and the punishment of death, eternal death. Jesus Christ, the Messiah is the Son of God. He is a Divine Person, true God and true Man. He is Emmanuel, God with us!

The third major epiphany, manifestation telling us that Jesus Christ is the Divine Savior who has come into the world is the wonderful story of the Wedding Feast of Cana. At Cana, the God/Man turns water into wine, a clear epiphany, manifestation of His divine power. By an act of His will, a blush comes over the water and it turns into the rich red of the choicest wines. So too, he will change our hearts from sin to virtue, if only we would let His grace radiate into our hearts. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! He is our God! As the Centurion who plunged the spear into His side on Calvary said: “Truly this man is the Son of God!”

Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.

"LORD, EVERY NATION ON EARTH WILL ADORE YOU!"

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord commemorates the fact that Jesus Christ has made Himself known to mankind. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning a manifestation of divinity. Through the Church’s liturgy, the Holy Spirit gives us assurances us that the Child, born of the Virgin, is indeed the promised Messiah!

Today's Gospel tells us of the three Magi who came to adore Him. This is an EPIPHANY, a manifestation, that the Christ Child is the Divine Savior. It is the first of three historical events recorded in the Gospels to illustrate this fact. In the First Reading Isaiah tells us: "Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come . . . See, darkness covers the earth . . . but upon you the Lord shines."

Jesus Christ is "the Light of the World" who illumines a world filled with the darkness of sin. He drives out the wickedness and evil of the world just as He dispelled the demons in the Gospels. As His followers, we must allow His grace to fill our hearts so that wickedness is driven out of our lives.

The Alleluia verse proclaims that, "we have seen His star in the east and have come to adore the Lord." We see His star today and every day through the saving mystery of the Catholic Church. It is through His Church that we find the Lord. As the Wise Men followed the Star of Bethlehem to find the Child, we follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, which lead us safely to Jesus. The Catholic Church leads us to the Kingdom of Heaven. There we will adore the Lamb for all eternity.

The second epiphany, manifestation, is the Baptism of the Lord. As Jesus emerges from the baptismal waters, God the Father identifies Him. He also gives the corresponding obligation of accepting this revelation. "This is my beloved Son! Hear Him!" At every Mass, the Priest lifts high the Host and repeats the words of John the Baptist: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Our Lord's mission was the Redemption! This is why He came into the world. He did not come as a political, social or economic reformer. If men would follow His Gospel, none of our social evils would exist. The Messiah’s essential mission was to save us from the dominion of Satan, slavery to sin and the punishment of death, eternal death. This Messiah is the Son of God. Jesus Christ is a Divine Person, true God and true Man. He is Emmanuel, God with us!

The third manifestation telling us that Jesus Christ is the Divine Savior who has come into the world is the wonderful story of the Wedding Feast of Cana. At Cana, the God/Man turns water into wine, a clear epiphany, manifestation of His divine power. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior! He is our God! As the Centurion said on Calvary; “Truly this man is the Son of God!”

Father Richard J. Rego, S.T.L.