The Divine Lamp

I originally posted this on the 14th. My notes on the Latin Mass can be accessed by clicking on the link “Latin Mass Notes” under this blogs title.

As I noted in a previous post, the introit (based upon Ps 54) printed in my missal is a bit garbled, and so I posted on the entire Psalm (see HERE). Because of this, my intention was to begin these notes with the prayer preceding the Epistle, however, I’ve decided to make an educated guess as to what the introit reads and begin with that. Please keep in mind this is only a guess.

Introit:
“When I cried to the Lord He heard my voice, He saved me from them that drew near to me; and He humbled them, He who is before all ages and remains forever: cast thy cares upon the Lord, and He will sustain thee. Hear, O God, my prayer, and despise not my supplication; be attentive to me and hear me.”

We are called upon to cast our cares upon the Lord who sustains us, and “in Whom we live, and move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28). This means not trusting in”dumb idols” (Epistle) “fashioned with gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination” (Acts 17:29). It means not trusting in the idols of our own will and fancy by which we “conduct ourselves as enemies of the cross of Christ,” make a god of our stomach, and glory in shame (see Philippians 3:18-19). It means not engaging in “the greed that is idolatry,” and which manifests itself in “evil desires” (pleonexia= being in a constant state of wanting more. Colossians 3:5).

Merely attempting to live as the Lord calls us to live is enough to raise the ire of certain people for whom such a life style stands as an indictment. They do not understand why we act “like obedient children” and not “in compliance with the desires of (our) former (and their current!) ignorance” (1 Pet 1:14). They are “surprised that (we) do not plunge into the same swamp of profligacy” as they do, and thus “they vilify (us)” (1 Pet 1:4). “These people, like irrational animals born by nature for capture and destruction, revile things that they do not understand, and in their destruction they will also be destroyed,13 suffering wrong as payment for wrongdoing. Thinking daytime revelry a delight, they are stains and defilements as they revel in their deceits while carousing with you. 14 Their eyes are full of adultery and insatiable for sin. They seduce unstable people, and their hearts are trained in greed. Accursed children!15 Abandoning the straight road, they have gone astray, following the road of Balaam, the son of Bosor, who loved payment for wrongdoing, 16 but he received a rebuke for his own crime: a mute beast spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.17 These people are waterless springs and mists driven by a gale; for them the gloom of darkness has been reserved.18 For, talking empty bombast, they seduce with licentious desires of the flesh those who have barely escaped from people who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him.20 For if they, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of (our) Lord and savior Jesus Christ, again become entangled and overcome by them, their last condition is worse than their first.21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them. 22 What is expressed in the true proverb has happened to them, “The dog returns to its own vomit,” and “A bathed sow returns to wallowing in the mire.”" (2 Peter 2:12-22). Who in their right mind wishes to live like this? And so in the introit we call upon god to hear our prayer that we may cast our cares upon him and be drawn from the surge of sinful men.

Prayer before the Epistle:
“O God, since Thou dost display Thy power mainly by showing pardon and pity, multiply Thy mercies upon us, so that, hastening on to Thy promises, we may gain a share in Thy heavenly treasures.”

Having cast our cares upon the Lord (introit) to relieve us of some of our enemies, we must not forget one of the greatest enemy of salvation we must face- our very own selves. After all, it is not only other people who are prone to follow after idols of various kinds! Are not we ourselves prone to such idolatry? And is it not an idolatry of the worst kind? The self-worship that is hypocrisy. Did not the Corinthians have an abundance of spiritual gifts? (1 Cor 1:7) Yet in spite of these Paul still found it necessary to speak to them as if they were immature children devoid of the Spirit’s wisdom (1 Cor 3:1-3). Having once been “led away to mute (voiceless) idols” (Epistle Reading: 1 Cor 12:2-11), they were now being misled by the gift of speech (prayer and prophecy) which the Spirit bestowed on them (1 Cor 13:1-2). This too is idolatry, and of the worst kind, for it attributes to man the things that are God’s. “There are different workings (of the Spirit) but the same God who produces all of them in everyone” (Epistle Reading). How absurd then to treat them as if they were from ourselves, or for our own aggrandizement? “For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted (Gospel Reading Luke 18:9-14).

Should we not thank God for the gifts we have received rather than brag about them before both God and man?

Secret:
“Let these appointed sacrifices be paid back unto Thee, O Lord, since Thou hast given them to be offered for the honor of Thy Name, so that at the same time they might become a remedy for all our ills.”

No good can come to a sick man who uses the medicine prescribed by a physician according to his own whim and fancy. Will not the whole head become sick, the whole heart faint? Will not the body be, from the soles of the feet to the top of the head, unsound? Will not wound and welt and gaping gash remain undrained, un-bandaged and without salve? (see Isaiah 1:5-6).

A sacrifice offered in honor to ourselves is a sorry sacrifice indeed! “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of men…I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all that I possess” (Gospel). What the hell is that except the hell that is “I will not serve?” And what can one expect in response? “What care I for the number of your sacrifices?…Trample my courts no more! Bring no more worthless offerings; your incense is loathsome to me…These I cannot bear…I tire of the load. When you spread out your hands (in prayer), I close my eyes to you; though you pray the more, I will not listen…Put away your misdeeds from before my eyes; cease doing evil; learn to do good. Make justice your aim” (see Isaiah 1:11-17). Otherwise “11 The haughty eyes of man will be lowered, the arrogance of men will be abased, and the LORD alone will be exalted, on that day.
12 For the LORD of hosts will have his day against all that is proud and arrogant, all that is high, and it will be brought low;
13 Yes, against all the cedars of Lebanon and all the oaks of Bashan,
14 Against all the lofty mountains and all the high hills,
15 Against every lofty tower and every fortified wall,
16 Against all the ships of Tarshish and all stately vessels.
17 Human pride will be abased, the arrogance of men brought low, And the LORD alone will be exalted, on that day.
18 The idols will perish forever.” (Isaiah 2:11-18)