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| “The Baptism” by Pietro Longhi, 1755 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: Ezekiel 36:23-28
Commentary on Ez 36:23-28
The prophet envisions the blessings of God being poured out upon the faithful, transforming them with an interior conversion of heart, such that they become a sign of God’s great power to all the lands. (“Thus the nations shall know that I am the Lord, says the Lord God, when in their sight I prove my holiness through you.”) This conversion is initiated by cleansing (“I will sprinkle clean water upon you”) and only God may do this; forgiveness is his alone. The process is continued with an indelible change of heart, accomplished this time through the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (“I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you”). This process, once completed, brings forth a new creation and heavenly adoption. (“…you shall be my people, and I will be your God.”) Theologically, this passage embodies the modern understanding of the gifts given in the Sacrament of Baptism.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R. (Ezekiel 36:25) I will pour clean water on you and wash away all your sins.
Commentary on Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Psalm 51 is the fourth and most famous of the penitential psalms. The psalmist sings, in these verses, that only God can reverse the awful effects of sin. Through this action, taken by the Holy Spirit, God’s salvation is made manifest in the repentant and contrite heart. We are also reminded of Baptism, and the purifying effect of that bath.
CCC: Ps 51:12 298, 431; Ps 51:19 1428, 2100
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Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
Commentary on Mt 22:1-14
St. Matthew’s Gospel presents us with the parable of the King's Wedding Feast. The reference to the first servants sent to invite the guests were the Prophets, rejected or misunderstood by the Jewish Leadership. The second servants sent represent Christ himself, who here predicts his own death at the hands of the people he was sent to invite.
In the second section, we see that the feast that was prepared for God’s chosen people, the Hebrew Nation who were first invited, is left unattended. Therefore, God’s mercy is extended to all people of all nations. There is a warning at the end. Those not clothed in Christ who attempt to enter by deception will be punished severely. This caution can be seen in two connotations. First, that those not properly disposed to participate in the wedding feast, recreated in the Eucharistic sacrifice, commit a serious sin. It also can be seen as the rationale for Purgatory, since the process of purification dresses the faithful for the eternal banquet in heaven.
CCC: Mt 22:1-14 546, 796
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Homily:
This coming week, in the Detroit area an event called the “Woodward Dream Cruise” will take place. If you have the chance to go down to Woodward Avenue you will see all sorts of vintage cars and custom vehicles driving up and down the street. The people who bring them there have spent hours preparing them, and in many cases thousands of dollars to restore them. The reasons they do this are as varied as the number of cars on the street. Some just love to work with their hands and love cars. Others feel nostalgic; they remembered a car or truck from their youth and want to relive the experience.
When these cars first rolled off the assembly line fifty or even a hundred years ago, they sparkled. Their paint was new, the upholstery fresh from the mills. They had that new car smell. We all know that smell if we have been fortunate enough to own or test drive a new car. Later on, most vehicles of their age were worn out. They fell into such disrepair that the owners “junked” them. The few that were saved from the junk heap are the ones we see on Woodward.
The Prophet Ezekiel speaks of people being made new. He describes the process by which God, in his infinite mercy, offers us a share in his heavenly banquet. In Baptism he sprinkles clean water upon us, cleansing us. He changes our fallen nature; contaminated when Adam and Eve, our ancestral parents, fell from grace. He makes us a new creation, and anoints us with sanctifying oil. We may not remember it, but when we came out of that bath, and were so anointed, we had that “new car smell.” We had clothed ourselves in Christ. Dressed like that we were ready for God’s heavenly banquet to which all are invited.
Now some of us, through prayer and sacrament, have kept that suit of Christ in pretty good shape. Regular trips to the confessional have kept us pretty well maintained. Others have not been so fortunate. They have not maintained the armor of Christ, the suit of holiness. Some have even thrown themselves on the junk heap of life. For these, the process of restoration in Purgatory will be long and painful, if they are to come at last to the king’s table. For most of us we hope our maintenance has been sufficient, so that a quick coat of paint and a few dings being banged out will be enough.
Today especially we thank God for his mercy in providing that first bath of Baptism. We pray that through his love and mercy we may come before him clothed in Christ and be welcomed on the last day.
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