Homilia de Sacramentis in Epiphania

Epiphany

Amici, Americani, Compatriotae,

Hic Dies est Epiphania Domini. Today is the Epiphany of the Lord. The Scripture readings include the following:

• Nations Come To Zion: Isaiah 60:1-6
• Prayer for Guidance and Support for the King: Psalm 72:1-13
• Commission to Preach God's Plan to the Gentiles: Ephesians 3:2-6
• The Visit of the Wise Men: Matthew 2:1-12

As usual Father Kirby at Our Lady of Grace gave an outstanding homily at the 0900 Mass. I cannot possibly do him justice, for the summary below is entirely too inadequate. I sincerely urge every person reading this who lives in the area of southern Charlotte, western Waxhaw, northern Lancaster and in Indian Land proper to make it a point to visit and listen and learn. It is nowadays very rare to be privileged to listen to orthodoxy and unapologetic truth from the pulpit, whether Catholic, Protestant or Easter Orthodox.

Father Kirby took the opportunity of Epiphany - when the Three Wise Men gave gifts to Jesus as a toddler - to discuss the seven Sacraments of the Church. Considering what happened yesterday (see the discussion of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at Gratias pro Venerata Rocio Ávila-Ramírez de Weddington UMC in this blog), this was quite a coincidence, but as my sponsor in Alcoholics Anonymous would always say, coincidence is just God's way of revealing His anonymity.

First, the Seven Sacraments and their Biblical basis are listed in the charts below from the Free Sacraments Chart at Defenders of the Christian Faith run by Catholic Apologist Steve Ray:

Sacraments - Sheet 1

Sacraments - Sheet 2

Second, Father Kirby went through each of these Sacraments and explained them.

Baptism and Confirmation place an indelible mark ("tatoo" in today's vernacular) on the soul. Thus, if one ends up in hell, then that mark will burn on one's soul for all eternity. When was the last time you heard a priest actually TALK about hell to his congregation and WARNED them of the consequences of neglecting the Faith?

The Eucharist - the partaking of Jesus' actual Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity - we celebrate every Sunday. Missing Sunday Mass is of the same gravity as murder and adultery. Neglecting the Sabbath is a violation of the Third Commandment - "Remember to keep Holy the Sabbath Day." This is no different than the Fifth Commandment - "Thou shalt not kill" - and the Sixth - "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Furthermore, when we walk into the Sanctuary, why are our voices hushed? Because we are in the Presence of the Living God in the Tabernacle. That is where the Real Presence of Jesus is. How can we go for more than a week without our spiritual food when we feed our bodies three times a day? And what happens when we deny our spiritual selves of Sunday Mass? Spiritual starvation, that's what!

Anointing of the Sick isn't just for people at death's door. It is a command for anyone who is sick. As James 5:14-15 says, "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven." People when fallen ill often say, "That's ok, Father. I am alright." Well, you're not alright. You need the Sacrament just as you need your doctor. This is why when you are sick, you find it difficult to pray. The sickness can affect not just your body, but infect your soul as well, hence the need for the Sacrament.

Confession is a requirement, not an option. Too many people today have given up the practice of Confession. But it is the normal means through which we may seek forgiveness of mortal sin. Father Kirby explained that even he goes to Confession once a month, and that periodic moral inventory taking is essential to good spiritual health. The Sacrament is medicinal, not punitive.

ASIDE: As a recovering alcoholic and drug addict, I thank God for this Sacrament. It is just like doing the 4th and 10th Steps moral inventory in AA. And in fact, when I go to Confession I actually go through the list of the 10 Commandments in Exodus 20, identifying where I have failed (again!), and doing what Bill Wilson said to do in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous: identifying unsaleable goods and trash canning them. For me, this is the real way to do my moral inventory, and without doing it I would surely drink or drug again (not to mention the fact that I would go to hell and for me that would start immediately with the first drink or drug). END ASIDE.

Holy Orders is another Sacrament that leaves an indelible mark on the soul. Priests and Bishops are put into a position of authority. But Father Kirby mentioned how surprised he is at the familiarity with which some people treat their priest (particularly in email). He explained that as a child the priest was one of the most revered figures around, and sometimes today non-Catholics have more respect for a priest than many Catholics do. He also explained that while sometimes he may question something that the Diocesan Bishop may say or direct, he nevertheless obeys the authority duly appointed over him, and that is how we should act towards our priest. Too often today we think we are the only authority unto ourselves - narcissism and egotism - and out of pride we don't want to defer to anyone else over us, but that's not what Jesus told us to do.

Matrimony is a Sacrament also - one man and one women marries in the sight of a deacon or a priest, NOT a Justice of the Peace. This is another Sacrament that has been subject to abuse. But we all know what Jesus commanded in Matthew 19:1-12.

Father Kirby ended by explaining that the Magi came to visit Jesus by one path - having followed the Bethlehem Star. But they left by a different path. We too have come to Jesus. Now we can leave via a different path thanks to the Sacraments. Jesus was given the gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh; but Jesus has given us in a sense gifts through the Sacraments.