The
nearer we approach to the coming of Christ the more the Church sighs
in her prayers for the Saviour of mankind. She sings, therefore, at
the Introit, “Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the
clouds rain the just” (Isaiah 45:8); “The heavens show forth the
glory of God, and the firmament declareth the work of His hands”
(Psalms 18:2).
Prayer
Stir
up Thy might, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come and succor us with
great power, that, by the help of Thy grace, the indulgence of Thy
mercy may accelerate what our sins impede. Who livest, etc.
EPISTLE
1 Corinthians 4:1-5.
Brethren
: Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and the
dispensers of the mysteries of God. Here now it is required among the
dispensers, that a man be found faithful. But to me it is a very
small thing to be judged by you, or by man's day, but neither do I
judge my own self. For I am not conscious to myself of anything : yet
I am not hereby justified : but lie that judgeth me is the Lord.
Therefore judge not before the time, until the Lord corne : Who both
will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make
manifest the counsels of the hearts : and then shall every man have
praise from God.
How
should priests be regarded by the faithful?
The
Church wishes to inspire us with respect and veneration towards
priests, who are ministers of Christ, dispensers of the mysteries of
God, and advocates of religion. The Scripture says, “Let the
priests that rule well be esteemed worthy of double honor, especially
they who labor in the word and doctrine” (1Timothy 5:17). “He
that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth
Me” (Luke 10:16).
Why
is this epistle read to-day?
The
Church wishes, by pointing to the second advent of Christ, to remind
the faithful to avoid judging their neighbors, but to judge
themselves, and to cleanse their hearts for the reception of Jesus as
our Saviour, that they may not have to shrink from Him when He cornes
as Judge.
Can
priests administer the holy sacraments as they please?
No,
for, as the stewards of Jesus Christ, they must observe His will,
which is that they should administer the sacraments for the glory of
God and the salvation of the faithful. They are not permitted to
“give that which is holy unto dogs” (Matthew 7:6), and cannot,
therefore, give absolution, or any sacrament, to those who are unfit,
lest they thereby condemn themselves.
Why
should they esteem it a small matter to be judged by men?
Because
men generally judge by appearances, and not by reality. St. Paul says
: “If I pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ”
(Galatians 1:10). But not only priests, the faithful also, must seek
to please God more than men. How foolish are they who follow all
silly and scandalous fashions in dress, gesture, and manners ; who
neglect the holy exercises of religion, and ask constantly, “What
will the world say?” but never, “What will my God and Saviour
say?” if I do this or that.
Why
does St. Paul say, “But neither do I judge my own self”?
Because
he could not know how God would judge him, “For man knoweth not
whether he be worthy of love or hatred” (Ecclesiastes 9:1);
therefore he adds, “I am not conscious to myself of anything, yet
am I not hereby justified, but He that judgeth me is the Lord.” We
should, therefore, examine ourselves thoroughly whether we are in sin
; but if we find nothing in us which displeases God we are not on
that account at liberty to think ourselves better than others, for
before the mirror of our self-esteem we look quite different to what
we are in truth before God, Who cannot be bribed. Oh, how many, who
now think themselves innocent and holy, shall appear at the day of
judgment stripped of their disguises, and the most secret workings of
their hearts revealed by God to their eternal disgrace ! This should
determine us not to judge before the time, either ourselves or any
one else, of whose hearts we must know even less than of our own.
“Let us therefore work out our salvation with fear and trembling”
(Philippians 2: 12).
Aspiration
O
Lord, enter not into judgment with Thy servant, for in Thy sight no
man living shall be justified (Psalms 142:2).
GOSPEL
Luke 3:1-6.
In
the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate
being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and
Philip his brother tetrarch of Iturea and the country of Trachonitis,
and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilina, under the high priests Annas and
Caiphas : the word of the Lord was made unto John the son of Zachary,
in the desert. And he came into all the country about the Jordan,
preaching the baptism of penance for the remission of sins, as it was
written in the book of the sayings of Isaias the prophet : A voice of
one crying in the wilderness : Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make
straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled : and every mountain
and hill shall be brought low : and the crooked shall be made
straight, and the rough ways plain. And all flesh shall see the
salvation of God.
Why
is the time at which St. John began to preach so minutely described?
Because
in that happy year the prophecy of Jacob was fulfilled, and the
sceptre being taken from Juda, the long-expected Messias showed
Himself to the world, was baptized by John, and declared by His
Heavenly Father to be His beloved Son, Whom men should hear.
Accordingly, that this time should never be forgotten, the
evangelist, contrary to his usual custom, describes it particularly,
mentioning the names both of the spiritual and temporal rulers.
Aspiration
Oh,
that Thy way, Jesus, may be well prepared in my heart ! Alas ! assist
me, O my Saviour, to do what I cannot do by myself. Fill up the
valley of my heart with Thy grace, and straighten my crooked and
perverted will, till it shall conform to Thine own. Soften my rough
and unruly mind ; bring low, destroy, and remove whatever in me
impedes Thy way, that Thou mayest come to me without hindrance, and
possess and govern me forever. Amen.
– Goffine's
Devout Instructions
