Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar

“John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’…” For one lamb has died for all, winning back for God the Father the whole flock of those who dwell on earth. One died for all in order to bring all back to God; one died for all that all might be won for him… For we were all living in our many sins and, for this reason, had a debt of death to pay and became mortal. That is why the Father delivered up his Son for our sakes (Jn 3,16; Mk 10,45). One died for all since all things are in him and he is above all. One died for all that we might all live in him, since death, which had swallowed up the lamb that was sacrificed for all, has yielded them all back again in and with him. For we were all included in the Christ who died for us and in our place and who was raised to life again. The origin and occasion of death is sin. But once sin was destroyed how could death escape complete destruction? Once the root has died how can the seedling coming out of it still be preserved? Once sin has been wiped out what fault remains for which we might die? So let us joyfully celebrate the sacrifice of the lamb, saying: “Death, where is your victory? Hell, where is your sting?” (1Cor 15,55; Hos 13,14)… “Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Gal 3,13) so that we might escape from the curse of sin.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team

The apostle Paul said: “Take off the old self with its practices and put on the new self” (Col 3,9-10)… This was the work Christ accomplished when he called Levi; he refashioned him into a new man. Similarly, it is as a new person that the former publican prepares a banquet for Christ since Christ takes pleasure in him and he himself merits to have a share in happiness with Christ… He followed him now, happy, lighthearted and overflowing with joy. “I have the aspect of a publican no more,” he said, “I don’t carry around the old Levi any longer; I put off Levi when I put on Christ. I flee from my earlier life; my Lord Jesus, you alone, who heal my wounds, I desire to follow. Who shall separate me from the love of God within you? tribulation? anguish? hunger? (Rom 8,35). I am bound to you by faith as by nails, I am held fast by the worthy bonds of love. All your commandments will be like a cautery that I will apply firmly to my wound; the remedy stings but it takes away the ulcerous infection. Lord Jesus, with your powerful sword cut away the corruption of my sins: come quickly, lance my hidden and varied passions. Purge away all infection in the new bath.” “Listen to me, you people who are fixed to the earth, you whose thoughts are intoxicated by your sins. I, Levi, was also wounded by similar passions. But I found a doctor who dwells in heaven and pours out his remedies on earth. He alone can cure my wounds since he himself has none. He alone can remove the heart’s pain and the soul’s lethargy, for he knows everything that lies hidden.”
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team