A Homily for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

+ As we process to receive Our Blessed Lord in Holy Communion in this Mass, the Church sings from psalm 26: “Unam petii a Domino, hanc requiram, ut inhabitem in domo Domini omnibus diebus vitae meae.” (One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.)
 
Psalm 26, which we sing at the beginning of the the second nocturn of Sunday matins each week is full of confidence in the power and protection of Almighty God: “Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea: quem timebo? Dominus protector vitae meae: a quo trepidabo?” (The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?) it sings.
 
There is much to contemplate in this psalm and we would do well to revisit it and ponder and emulate its faith, whatever our circumstances or particular vocation.
 
Clearly these words of psalm 26 have a particular import for those called to the monastic life, particularly when read with the words which complete this verse of the psalm: “…ut videam voluptatem Domini, et visitem templum ejus” (…to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His Temple). For what is the monastic life but the daily seeking after the Lord in the beauty of His Temple? Of course, the monastic life includes many things—study, manual and intellectual work, the development and practice of crafts, gardening and farming, administration, appropriate sacramental and pastoral ministry, and even the most menial of household chores. And yet, for the monk, be he the abbot or a lay brother, any and all of these activities have as their source and indeed find their meaning in his perseverance in dwelling in the house of the Lord and in his continual seeking of the beauty of the Lord therein in the traditional hours of the Divine Office, in Holy Mass and in the other sacred rites.
 
For the monk is (or ought to be) one who constantly keeps before him the beautiful face of Christ who calls him to that daily conversion of life which enables him ever more deeply to drink from the inexhaustable fountain of grace that is the Sacred Liturgy. Thus purified and strengthened he can rightly sing “Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea: quem timebo? Dominus protector vitae meae: a quo trepidabo?” (The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?)
 
But the psalms are not only for monks, as the use of the first words of psalm 26 by the Church’s Sacred Liturgy as the antiphon for the Communion procession underline. For it is the God-given vocation of all the baptised to “dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,” eternally. (And it is precisely in the hope of this that a young man seeks entry to the monastery.) And it is in the hope of—indeed in the confident (but not presumptuous) expectation of—this eternal life that we process to the altar to receive its very foretaste (as St Thomas Aquinas taught) in the Sacrament of the Most Blessed Eucharist. For what greater anticipation of eternal life with the Lord is there in this life than the reception of His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, in Holy Communion? What greater sustenance is there for each of us as we face the challenge to be faithful to Christ amidst the circumstances and duties that are ours each day?
 
Yes, some of us are truly privileged indeed to live during this life in the Lord’s Temple and daily to behold His beauty. And indeed, in these increasingly turbulent times in the history of the Church it is our duty and our vocation to ensure that the monastery does not cease to enable the pure waters of His beauty to flow for the benefit of all through its fidelity to the integral celebration of the traditional liturgy of the Church—even if there are some in authority who wish at all costs to brick up their wellspring. And yet, in the face of such persecution this morning’s Epistle teaches us: “Who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is right? But even if you do suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled…” No, the beauty of the Lord is to be beheld—and upheld!—in His Temple in order that we may behold it for eternity.
 
Whilst it is our privilege so to do this morning, we must not become complacent: the Gospel of this Holy Mass teaches us that “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Even a monk or someone who frequents the most beautiful of liturgical rites may lose all that he or she desires and come to deserve the condemnation of everlasting hell. Our conversion of life must be real so that our worship may be pure and acceptable in the sight of Almighty God.
 
As we assist once again this morning at the re-presentation of the Sacrifice of Christ upon this altar, let us never despair of God’s mercy won for us by His Beloved Son on the Cross—and if necessary let us ask for the grace to seek it out in the Sacrament of Confession—begging Almighty God that our worship may be an offering that is pure and truly acceptable in His sight, for our salvation and the salvation of all. +