Latin Mass Resources: 4th Sunday After Pentecost (June 28)
Posted by Dim Bulb on June 27, 2009
The introit is taken from Psalm 26 (27) 1-3. According to the title of this Psalm it was uttered by David just before he was anointed king; therefore it is fitting that it should open the Mass wherein we read of the call of St Peter and others to ministry.
The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?
Psa 27:2 Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh. My enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have fallen.
Psa 27:3 If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident.
St Augustine comments: 1. Christ’s young soldier speaketh, on his coming to the faith. “The Lord is my light, and my salvation: whom shall I fear?” (verse 1). The Lord will give me both knowledge of Himself, and salvation: who shall take me from Him? “The Lord is the Protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid?” The Lord will repel all the assaults and snares of mine enemy: of no man shall I be afraid.
2. “Whilst the guilty approach unto me to eat up my flesh” (verse 2). Whilst the guilty come near to recognise and insult me, that they may exalt themselves above me in my change for the better; that with their reviling tooth they may consume not me, but rather my fleshly desires. “Mine enemies who trouble me.” Not they only who trouble me, blaming me with a friendly intent, and wishing to recall me from my purpose, but mine enemies also. “They became weak, and fell.”(8) Whilst then they do this with the desire of defending their own opinion, they became weak to believe better things, and began to hate the word of salvation, whereby I do what displeases them.
3. “If camps stand together against me, my heart will not fear.” But if the multitude of gain-sayers conspire to stand together against me, my heart will not fear, so as to go over to their side. “If war rise up against me, in this will I trust” (verse 3). If the persecution of this world arise against me, in this petition, which I am pondering, will I place my hope.
St Peter and those with him in ministry will suffer for their ministry:
Luk 22:27 For which is greater, he that sitteth at table or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at table? But I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth.
Luk 22:28 And you are they who have continued with me in my temptations:
Luk 22:29 And I dispose to you, as my Father hath disposed to me, a kingdom;
Luk 22:30 That you may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom: and may sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Luk 22:31 And the Lord said: Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.
Luk 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and thou, being once converted, confirm thy brethren.
Luk 22:33 Who said to him: Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison and to death.
Luk 22:34 And he said: I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, till thou thrice deniest that thou knowest me. And he said to them:
Luk 22:35 When I sent you without purse and scrip and shoes, did you want anything?
Luk 22:36 But they said: Nothing. Then said he unto them: But now he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise a scrip: and he that hath not, let him sell his coat and buy a sword.
Luk 22:37 For I say to you that this that is written must yet be fulfilled in me. And with the wicked was he reckoned. For the things concerning me have an end.
See also Acts 4:1-33; Matt 10:16-39; Matt 16:13-20.
Sermon on the Gospel by St Ambrose of Milan
