Sexagesima Sunday 2012

First of all, before thinking about this Sunday, I have one thing to say, and I am unanimous in it. I'm talking about all this nonsense about a woman's right to choose to abort their baby, and the right to have contraception pills available at little cost. My stance is this: A woman, and in fact, everyone, has this right to choose. This is the choice to do what God expects them to do or not! PERIOD! The Bishops need to man up and do what they have been chosen to do. Lead us to Christ through His Church and its teachings. Another PERIOD!

Now, on to this week in this penitential season. Last week we heard about Adam, his sin, and how it came onto all of us. This week, we think about Noah; about his being the only person on earth(along with his three sons, their wives, and his wife), who were actually living the way they were suppose to. Think about it. The ONLY people on the entire earth who were doing right. When Christ comes back, will he find anyone faithful enough?

We hear this Sunday about the seeds falling to earth on different types of soil. St. Gregory the Great justly remarks(according to the good Abbot Guerenger), that this parable needs no explanation, since eternal Wisdom Himself has told us its meaning. All that we have to do, is to profit by this divine teaching, and become the good soil, wherein the heavenly seed may yield a rich harvest. How often have we, hitherto, allowed it to be trampled on by them that passed by, or to be torn up by the birds of the air! How often has it found our heart like a stone, that could but choke! We listened to the word of God; we took pleasure in hearing it; and from this we argued well for ourselves. Nay, we have often received this word with joy and eagerness. Sometimes, even, it took root within us. But, alas! something always came to stop its growth. Henceforth, it must both grow and yield fruit. The seed given to us is of such quality, that the divine Sower has a right to expect a hundred-fold. If the soil, that is, our heart, be good; if we take the trouble to prepare it, by profiting by the means afforded us by the Church; we shall have an abundant harvest to show our Lord on that grand day, when, rising triumphant from His tomb, He will come to share with His faithful people the glory of His Resurrection.

Let us end with a hymn taken from the ancient breviaries of the Churches of France:

The days of ease are about to close; the days of holy observance are returning; the time of temperance is at hand; let us seek our Lord in purity of heart.

Our sovereign Judge will be appeased by our hymns and praise. He who would have us sue for grace, will not refuse us pardon.

The slavish yoke of Pharaoh, and the fetters of cruel Babylon, have been borne too long: let man now claim his freedom, and seek his heavenly country, Jerusalem.

Let us quit this place of exile: let us dwell with the Son of God. Is it not the servant's glory, to be made co-heir with his Lord?

O Jesus! be thou our guide through life. Remember that we are thy sheep, for whom thou, the Shepherd, didst lay down thine own life.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son; honour too be to the holy Paraclete: as it was in the beginning, now is, and shall ever be. Amen.