Colossians 3: 14-15 Super omnia autem haec, caritatem habere, quod est vinculum perfectionis: et pax Christi exsultet in cordibus vestris, in qua et vocati estis in uno corpores: et grati estote. But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: and let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.

Matthew 13:30 Sinite utraque crescere usque ad messem, et in tempore messis dicam messoribus: Colligite primum zizania, et alligate ea in fasciculos ad comburendum, triticum autem congregate in horreum meam. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn.

Dear Traditional Latin Mass Faithful and friends,

The few Sundays that remain on the Church calendar after the Feast of Christ the King resume the texts of the Sundays after Epiphany until the final Sunday of the Church year, which is the Last Sunday after Pentecost. Thus the adoration of the magi, when the three kings at the birth of Our Lord and Savior sought after and found the Lord of lords and the King of kings, is linked to our belief in Jesus Christ, our King, who reigns now and for all eternity. During these final weeks the Church wisely advises us how to live now and for all eternity. We are wise to take heart the Word of God spoken to us in such a timely fashion.

The selection we have this week from St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians reminds us of weddings as a young couple prepares for a life time together. What do they want for themselves as they take this most important step in their lives? What is their desire come what may? What is paramount in their thoughts and desires for their yet unseen future? The answer simply put: Love. Without love we have nothing; nothing is more important. Even all the other virtues are built on and follow from love. Without love we are empty and fools. No matter what we accomplish or possess love is our greatest treasure, the only one that can open us to eternal love in God.

Jesus revealed by his words and actions the power of love. Of course, this is far from the cheapened Hollywood version that tries to distract and seduce us. Christian Love is the Cross. Here is our Romance. Without the Cross of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we are lost. Only those who embrace the Cross have the hope of entering into communion with God, a communion that will reach perfection in heaven. Jesus makes this choice clear in the gospel story we hear today.

Good and evil exist side by side in our world. God permits evil to exist in our world, but He is never its cause. God is all Good. Yet we must choose Him. What happened to Adam and Eve in the Garden is always before us. We can choose to disobey God or love Him. We can embrace His commandments or reject them. We can permit ourselves to be duped by Satan and think good is evil and evil is good. We can even pretend to be God and try to set up a false heaven on earth. However, in the end God will have His way. Jesus warns us. The existence, even the flourishing of evil, should not deceive us or seduce us. There will be a Day of Judgment, a Day of reckoning, and on that day Love will have its final and ultimate triumph. All that we will be able to take with us into eternity is Love, nothing else. All else must be left behind. No Love, no eternity with God. It’s that simple!

In Domino,

Fr. Mark G. Mazza, Chaplain