Holy Mass - Cathedral of St Paul, Sunday, March 6, 2022

when he calls to me i will answer him i will rescue him and honor him long with long life will i satisfy him today we celebrate the first sunday of lent the parish bulletin found at the entrances and on our webpage contains the music and readings for mass today's mass intention is for the repose of the soul of donald van de wall the celebrant of this mass is father ubel the opening hymn may be found at number 420 again we keep this solemn fast number four two zero let us stand and begin [Music] our uh of faith [Music] my [Music] lord and is [Music] make the words [Music] peace [Music] i is [Music] we pray [Music] is [Music] in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen the grace of our lord jesus christ the love of god and the communion of the holy spirit be with you all and with your spirit my friends in christ on this the first sunday of lent we begin as always by pausing to acknowledge our sins so as to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries i confess to almighty god and to you my brothers and sisters that i have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words in what i have done and in what i have failed to do through my fault through my fault through my most grievous fault therefore i ask blessed mary ever virgin all the angels and saints and you my brothers and sisters to pray for me to the lord our god may almighty god have mercy on us forgive us our sins and bring us to everlasting life amen [Music] [Music] christian [Music] christians [Music] me [Music] let us pray grant almighty god through the yearly observances of holy lent that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects through our lord jesus christ your son who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the holy spirit god forever and ever amen a reading from the book of deuteronomy moses spoke to the people saying the priest shall receive the basket from you and shall set it in front of the altar of the lord your god then you shall declare before the lord your god my father was a wandering araman who went down to egypt with a small household and lived there as an alien but there he became a nation great strong and numerous when the egyptians maltreated and oppressed us imposing hard labor upon us we cried to the lord the god of our fathers and he heard our cry and saw our affliction our toil and our oppression he brought us out of egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm with terrifying power with signs and wonders and bringing us into this country he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey therefore i have now brought you the first fruits of the products of the soil which you o lord have given me and having set them before the lord your god you shall bow down in his presence the word of the lord [Music] be with me lord when i am in a trouble [Music] be with me [Music] he who dwells in the shelter of the most high and abides in the shade of the almighty my says [Music] my stronghold my god in whom i trust upon you no evil shall fall no plague approach where you dwell for you he has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways they shall bear you upon their hands lest you strike your foot against the stone on the lion and the viper you will tread and trample the young lion and a dragon since he clings to me in love i will free him protect him for he knows my name when he calls i shall answer i am with you i will save him in distress and give him glory be with me lord when i am in trouble [Music] a reading from the letter of saint paul to the romans brothers and sisters what does scripture say the word is near you in your mouth and in your heart that is the word of faith that we preach for if you confess with your mouth that jesus is lord and believe in your heart that god raised him from the dead you will be saved for one believes with the heart and so is justified and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved for the scripture says no one who believes in him will be put to shame for there is no distinction between jew and greek the same lord is lord of all enriching all who call upon him for everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved the word of the lord thanks be to god praise [Music] jesus christ [Music] one does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of god [Music] the lord be with you and with your spirit a reading from the holy gospel according to luke glory to you lord filled with the holy spirit jesus returned from the jordan and was led by the spirit into the desert for forty days to be tempted by the devil he ate nothing during those days and when they were over he was hungry the devil said to him if you are the son of god command this stone to become bread jesus answered him it is written one does not live on bread alone then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant the devil said to him i shall give to you all this power and glory for has been handed over to me and i may give it to whomever i wish all this will be yours if you worship me jesus said to him in reply it is written you shall worship the lord your god and him alone shall you serve then he led him to jerusalem made him stand on the parapet of the temple and said to him if you are the son of god throw yourself down from here for it is written he will command his angels concerning you to guard you and with their hands they will support you lest you dash your foot against a stone jesus said to him in reply it also says you shall not put the lord your god to the test when the devil had finished every temptation he departed from him for a time the gospel of the lord praise to you lord jesus christ in all three years of the lectionary cycle the first sunday of lent focus on the account of the temptation of jesus by the devil of course it's the classical biblical scene of good versus evil but it contains several facets of the nature of temptation that i'd like to address today it's not too much of a stretch for us to see in these temptations a mirror into our own souls jesus is tempted physically to satisfy his hunger to end his fast he's tempted emotionally to satiate the human appetite for power and glory and he is tempted spiritually to demonstrate the depth of his relationship with the father and so in all the essential ways in which we can be tempted jesus was though of course with a major difference rather than succumb to temptation each time he called upon drew upon his own relationship with the father so as to recommit himself to his mission we do a great disservice to the humanity of jesus if we see in these temptations a mere play acting as if he knew all along the devil had no power and wasn't the least bit afraid in the 2004 film the passion of the christ one under scene in the film at least in my view centers on the masterful way in which the director weaves the presence of evil with the person of the devil and i had never seen evil depicted in such a manner the androgynous figure devoid both of hair even eyebrows and covered with a hood lingers around in the background from time to time beginning with the garden of gethsemane scene at times the figure literally walks in a different direction from the crowd and you don't even notice it right away moving ever so smoothly gracefully with eyes that stare you down it gave me for a new appreciation for the mysterious nature of evil it's a portrait of evil that sows seeds of doubt in one's mind and then quietly lurks in the background what will happen next this is how most of us experience temptation towards evil in our lives enticing inviting second guessing torn between choices of the head and the heart this point was impressed upon me as a child while watching saturday morning cartoons of all things fred flintstone comes to mind because i remember a particular episode in which fred flintstone the main character has an angel appearing on his right shoulder and the devil appears over the left shoulder after all the word sinister derives from the latin word for the left hand but i think those cartoon directors were onto something because this is precisely why jesus's response is so instructive for us you see way back in the third century a fascinating theologian the name of origen preached about good and bad angels he was preaching mostly to the catechumens those who are preparing for baptism and even bolsters his case by appealing to another writer a hundred years earlier well here's what he says the reader will find that two angels are present in every man a wicked angel who exhorts him to wrongdoing and a good angel who urges him to do everything good so maybe the cartoons weren't so far off because many centuries before there was this sense in which we are tugged there's a tug of war going on in our souls that theologian went on to say if good thoughts are present in our hearts and justice springs up in our souls then we may be assured that it is the age of the lord speaking to us now granted this worldview is not shared by many today it appears overly simplistic to them i suppose you might even say cartoonish but he was a brilliant man he was no fool arguably the most brilliant theologian in the early church though he definitely wrote a little bit outside the lines he thought outside the box but his was a very prayerful reading of the scriptures his homilies would focus on two or three verses at most and then he would come up back with another homily here he was spot on he also cited a verse from saint matthew's gospel in which jesus and speaking of little children says their angels always see the face of my father in heaven if i am in the church no matter how very little i am he wrote my angel enjoys the liberty and the trust to always see the face of the father who is in heaven now getting back to this particular passage about which he wrote also we notice in the first temptation jesus responds to the invitation challenging his miraculous powers how by quoting scripture right back at the devil it says jesus answered him it is written in other words jesus is saying two can play that game if you want to quote scripture in the second instance jesus brought to a high point i like to think about going all the way to the top of the cathedral looking out over the city viewing all the kingdoms that could be his this was a worldly temptation by showing him something good that could all be his jesus says to him in reply you shall worship the lord your god him alone shall you serve you can show me all the kingdoms i will worship god i think it's a beautiful prayer you can repeat it in your own home reminding yourself of this basic truth him alone shall we serve and then in the third and final instance the devil quote scripture again evidently not having learned his lesson the first time obedience to the father is a characteristic of true sonship and so jesus is tempted by the devil to rebel against that sonship overtly in the third case more subtly in the first two and to the challenge if you are the son of god jesus cites deuteronomy you shall not put the lord your god to the test the implication here of course is clear jesus is telling the devil i know who i am do you do you but i think the most troubling part of the entire passage is the last sentence the good ending is tempered by simply recounting i'll read it again when the devil had finished every temptation he departed from him for a time those last three words for a time in other words it isn't over it'll happen again we've been given fair warning we will be dealing with temptation of one sort another for the rest of our lives oh yes it will change from one chapter of our life to another but we're not done with it but at the same time may we recall that we have all the tools necessary to shun the temptations the evil one if only we use them we are neither slaves to evil nor are we powerless against the blood of the cross has washed us clean and gives us the strength to carry on and so as we settle in now to a long season of lent ahead a journey if you will through the desert of our own weakness if we but follow the path to the glory of the cross therein we will find the grace necessary to refresh and renew our thirst we won't worry about the devil whispering into our left ear because we'll have our angel reassuring us in our right ear following the path set out for us by our lord leading us to our true and eternal home i believe in one god the father almighty maker of heaven and earth of all things visible and invisible i believe in one lord jesus christ the only begotten son of god born of the father before all ages god from god light from light true god from true god begotten not made consubstantial with the father through him all things were made for us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven and by the holy spirit was incarnate of the virgin mary and became man for our sake he was crucified under pontius pilate he suffered death and was buried and rose again on the third day in accordance with the scriptures he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the father he will come again in glory to judge the living in the dead and his kingdom will have no end i believe in the holy spirit the lord the giver of life who proceeds from the father and the son who with the father and the son is adored and glorified who has spoken through the prophets i believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church i confess one baptism the forgiveness of sins and i look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come amen striving to resist worldly temptation and embracing the sacrifices of lent we present to god these our needs and those of the whole world for the church may those appointed in the church to proclaim god's word find open hearts and minds among those who listen let us pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer for the leaders of our nation may all who hold public office promote life justice and peace striving to work together for the common good let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for a greater respect for human life may god who knows us even from the womb sustain our efforts to eliminate abortion and the conditions that lead to it let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for our catechumens and candidates may the power of god's holy word transform them as they continue their journey in the church let us pray to the lord lord hear our prayer for the suffering people of ukraine may our prayers joined with those of people around the world helped guide those waging war to end the meaningless suffering and restore peace let us pray to the lord hear our prayer for those who have died may they be led to the light of the resurrection let us pray to the lord r lord hear our prayer merciful father as we begin our lenten observance guide our acts of prayer fasting and almsgiving we make our prayers in faith and trust through christ our lord amen the cathedral parish is dependent upon the financial support of her cherished parishioners and many welcome guests there is a qr code in the parish bulletin from which to donate electronically you may also use any of the four stewardship drop boxes for your offering at the selby and dayton doors we thank you for your generosity pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to god the almighty father may the lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name for our good and the good of all his holy church give us the right dispositions o lord we pray to make these offerings for with them we celebrate the beginning of this venerable and sacred time through christ our lord amen the lord be with you and with your spirit lift up your hearts we lift them up to the lord let us give thanks to the lord our god it is right and just it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks lord holy father almighty and eternal god through christ our lord by abstaining 40 long days from earthly food he consecrated through his fast the pattern of our lenten observance and by overturning all the snares of the ancient serpent taught us to cast out the leaven of malice so that celebrating worldly the paschal mystery we might pass over at last to the eternal paschal feast and so with the company of angels and saints we sing the name of your praise as without him and we acclaim [Music] shall cease [Music] you are indeed holy o lord and all you have created rightly gives you praise for through your son our lord jesus christ by the power and working of the holy spirit you give life to all things and make them holy and you never cease to gather a people to yourself so that from the rising the sun to what setting a pure sacrifice may be offered to your name therefore o lord be humbly implore you by the same spirit graciously make holy these gifts we have brought to you for consecration that they may become the body and blood of your son our lord jesus christ at whose command we celebrate these mysteries for on the night he was betrayed he himself took bread and giving you thanks he said the blessing broke the bread and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be given up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and given you thanks he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me [Music] therefore o lord as we celebrate the memorial the saving passion of your son his wondrous resurrection and ascension into heaven and as we look forward to his second coming we offer you in thanksgiving this holy and living sacrifice look we pray upon the oblation of your church and recognizing the sacrificial victim by whose death you willed to reconcile us to yourself grant that we who are nourished by the body and blood of your son and filled with his holy spirit may become one body one spirit in christ may he make of us an eternal offering to you so we may obtain an inheritance with your elect especially with the most blessed virgin mary mother of god with blessed joseph her spouse with your blessed apostles and glorious martyrs with saint paul with all the saints on whose constant intercession in your presence we rely for unfailing help made this sacrifice of our reconciliation we pray o lord advance the peace and salvation of all the world be pleased to confirm in faith and charity your pilgrim church on earth with your servant francis our pope and bernard our bishop joseph his assistant the order bishops all the clergy and the entire people you have gained for your own listen graciously to the prayers of this family whom you have summoned before you in your compassion of merciful father gather to yourself all your children scattered throughout the world to our departed brothers and sisters and to all who were pleasing to you at their passing from this life give kind admittance to your kingdom there we hope to enjoy forever the fullness of your glory through christ our lord through whom you bestow on the world all that is good through him and with him and in him oh god almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever [Music] at the savior's command and formed by divine teaching we dare to say our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil deliver us lord we pray from every evil graciously grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our savior jesus christ for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever lord jesus christ who said to your apostles peace i leave you my peace i give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously grant your peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and reign for ever and ever amen the peace of the lord be with you always and with your spirit let us offer to another a sign of peace [Music] queens [Music] [Music] is [Music] is behold the lamb of god behold him who takes away the sins of the world blessed are those called to the supper of the lamb lord i am i should enter my room but only say the word and my soul shall be healed an act of spiritual communion my jesus i believe that you are present in the most holy sacrament i love you above all things and i desire to receive you into my soul since i cannot this moment receive you sacramentally come at least spiritually into my heart i embrace you as if you were already there and unite myself holy to you never permit me to be separated from you amen [Music] [Music] peace [Music] there it is find you would find refuge in god find safety [Music] his ways [Music] he's [Music] those who dwell in the shelter of the most high who abide in the shade of the almighty say to the lord my refuge my stronghold my god in whom i trust [Music] [Music] it is god who will free you from the snail of the fowler who seeks to destroy you for you for you god has commanded his angels to keep you in all your ways [Music] fine safety [Music] is let us pray renewed now with heavenly bread by which faith is nourished hope increased and charity strengthened we pray o lord that we may learn to hunger for christ the true with living bread and strive to live by every word which proceeds from your mouth through christ our lord amen just a few announcements today i want to thank all who have supported the catholic services appeal if you brought your pledge forms back from last weekend commitment sunday please deposit them in the drop boxes by the side doors and if you would still like to make a pledge and don't have an envelope we have them strategically placed on the tables by the four peers so this is follow-up weekend so it's important to keep that first and foremost in our mind you are supporting the entire work of the archdiocese 20 different ministries limited number of children's lenten activity booklets are available after mass please come to the sacristy on saturday march 19th the celebrity saint joseph we are offering a women's morning recollection beginning with an eight o'clock mass that's open to all and then following a continental breakfast for the women dr elizabeth kelly will present two reflections in hayden hall we had a very successful men's morning recollection last saturday so we're looking forward to a couple weeks we invite you take a bold home to learn more about the upcoming cathedral activities and thank you for your generous support and i'll simply add with the weather today but please be very careful as you're making your way back to the parking lot into your cars the lord be with you and with your spirit may almighty god bless you the father and the son and the holy spirit amen go forth the mass has ended thanks be to god let us sing number 419 40 days and 40 nights number 419. [Music] fourteen days [Music] forty days [Music] fasting [Music] then [Music] thick so shall we [Music] shall angels shine such as swords [Music] that with your is [Music]

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Length: 52min 41sec (3161 seconds)

Published: Sun Mar 06 2022