Fourth Sunday after
Easter
Devout instructions
on the
Epistles and Gospels
Fr. Leonard
Goffine
Introit
The Introit of the Mass of today
is a song of praise and thanksgiving. “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, alleluia,
for the Lord hath done wonderful things, alleluia. He hath revealed His justice
in the sight of the gentiles, alleluia, alleluia. His right hand hath wrought
for Him salvation, and His arm is holy.” Glory be to the Father.
Collect
O God, Who dost unite the hearts
of the faithful in one will, grant to Thy people to love what Thou commandest,
and to desire what Thou dost promise, that among the changes of this world our
hearts may be fixed on that place where true joys reside. Through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
EPISTLE - James 1: 17–21
Dearly Beloved: Every best gift,
and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,
with Whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. For of His own will
hath He begotten us by the word of truth, that we might be some beginning of
His creatures. You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to
hear: but slow to speak, and slow to anger. For the anger of man worketh not
the justice of God. Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of
naughtiness, with meekness receive the engrafted word, which is able to
save your souls.
Practice
In this epistle the Church
teaches us that every good gift comes from God. But the most precious gift is,
that He of His grace through the doctrines and institutions of Christianity,
has made us new men, children of God, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven. The
Church admonishes us, further, to walk worthy of this grace; to love God as our
Father, to listen to His word willingly, without complaining when He chastises
us, and to shun all impurity, anger, and multiplicity of words, in which “there
shall not want sin” (Prov. x. 19).
Aspiration
Help me, O God, to preserve the
grace received in baptism; give me, therefore, a great love for Thy word.
Deliver me from all inordinate passions, that I may walk worthy of Thee, purely
and with patience.
GOSPEL - John 16: 5–14
At that time Jesus said to His disciples:
I go to Him that sent Me; and none of you asketh Me; Whither goest Thou? But
because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow hath filled your heart. But I
tell you the truth: it is expedient to you that I go; for if I go not, the
Paraclete will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. And when
He is come, He will convince the world of sin, and of justice, and of judgment;
of sin because they believed not in Me And of justice; because I go to the
Father and you shall see Me no longer. And of judgment because the prince of
this world is already judged. I have yet many things to say to you but you
cannot bear them now. But when He the Spirit of truth is come, He will teach
you all truth; for He shall not speak of Himself; but what things soever He
shall hear, He shall speak, and the things that are to come He shall show you.
He shall glorify Me: because He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it to
you.
Why did Jesus say, “I go to My Father?”
To reprove His disciples for
giving way to excessive sorrow over His departure, which was to be the means of
purifying and strengthening their virtue, and of perfecting the work of
redemption, for them and for all the world. Learn from this, not to give way to
too much sorrow in adversity.
How has the Holy Ghost convinced the world of sin, of justice, and
of judgment?
He has convinced the world, I. of
sin, by making the Jews know and lament the monstrous crime which they
committed against Christ, and this He effected particularly at Pentecost. 2. Of
justice, by teaching the innocence and holiness of Jesus, on account of
which God gave Him a kingdom, and required men to worship Him as the true God. 3. Of
judgment, by everywhere overcoming the prince of darkness, destroying
his kingdom, casting down the temples of idolatry, and in their place, by
seemingly weak means, establishing the kingdom of truth and virtue.
How does the Holy Ghost teach all truths?
By preserving the pastors and
teachers of the Church from all errors, in their teaching of faith and morals,
and by instructing each member of the Church in the truths of salvation.
Aspiration
Whither am I going? Will my life
bring me to God? O my God and my Lord, direct my feet in the way of Thy commandments,
and keep my heart free from sin, that the Holy Ghost, finding nothing in me
worthy of punishment, may teach me all truth, and bring me safely to Thee, Who
art the eternal truth. Amen.
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