SAINT AGNES CATHEDRAL 533 South Jefferson Springfield, MO 65806 EXTRAORDINARY FORM OF THE MASS: Celebrant Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
February 20, 2011 Septuagesima Sunday
Epistle: I Cor. 9:24-27; 10:1-5
Gospel: Matth. 20: 1-16
Mass schedule February 21 through February 25
Monday----Feria----NO LATIN MASS
Tuesday----Chair of Saint Peter
Wednesday----Saint Peter Damian; Bishop, Confessor & Doctor
Thursday----Saint Matthias; Apostle
Friday----Feria
The nature of the Christian’s life must involve a certain “interior” striving. We should really approach our spiritual life with a competitive spirit. We should also learn to guard our spirituality with a certain jealousy. In other words, we should foster a healthy striving toward becoming the saints that Christ is asking us to become. We must learn to face all sacrifices that our Lord asks of us head-on. As followers of Christ we cannot allow any obstacles, failures, limitations or temptations of any sort to discourage us. It should come as no surprise when we discover that pride, envy, jealousy, laziness, hatred and all other sins rise up from the depths of our own hearts. Listen to the words of Saint Paul: “I do not run aimlessly, I do not box as one beating the air, but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” The point is we cannot become depressed by our failures, even if they are serious. We must have recourse to Christ is the Sacrament of Penance and begin again with a desire to improve. Christ understands our weakness and constantly calls us to Himself.
Saint Paul emphasizes the importance of perseverance. He points out the importance of the ascetical effort we have a responsibility to embrace. We must physically mortify our bodies to gain self-control of our sinful nature. As we begin today to prepare for the Lenten season, we must ask our Lord for the grace to deny ourselves. In this way we learn to bring Christ’s good work He has begun in us to perfection.
Sincerely in Christ,
Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching
