• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“What earlier generations held as sacred, remains sacred and great for us too…” Pope Benedict XVI (7 July 2007)

  • Our Team
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
    • Saint Antoine Daniel KYRIALE
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
  • Donate
Views from the Choir Loft

“Homily for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost” (EF) • Father Valentine Young, OFM

Jeff Ostrowski · September 4, 2020

This coming Sunday (6 September 2020) is the 14th Sunday after Pentecost in the Extraordinary Form. The following is a homily by Father Valentine Young, OFM, who died on 17 January 2020. We received permission to post these homilies, as well as to correct “grammatical errors, etc.” To learn more about Father Valentine, scroll to the bottom of the page. These homilies were all delivered sometime between 2013 and 2020.

Homily • 14th Sunday after Pentecost

NE OF THE HARDEST—if not the hardest—thing that Jesus told us to do is contained in these words of today’s Gospel: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his justice and all these things shall be added unto you.” In perhaps plainer and more ordinary English, Our Lord Jesus Christ is telling us to put God first in our lives. If we do that, everything else will be taken care of.

Hardest Commandment: I say this is the hardest thing that Jesus has told us to do. It is (relatively speaking) easier to observe the commandments and to refrain from sinning in general than it is really to put our trust in God. We might say we do—and we might even try to do so. But then there is always that urge to step in there and see what we can do, in case God doesn’t come through. I don’t think Jesus could have used a better example than birds flying around to prove his point.

Birds: Just think of the birds, the simplest, un-prettiest and least desirable of any of them. It makes no difference. You see them flying around from place to place, apparently stopping here or there for food or water. Do you think any of them are ever worried about where they are going to find their next food or water? I’m not a bird-psychologist, but I am rather sure the answer is no. I know nothing about the life span of a bird, but apparently they live as long as God intended them to live, at least under ordinary circumstances. Now don’t you wish you could live like that? We might not include the flying part.

First Suggestion: I’ll offer only two suggestions although I’m sure there could be more. One is that it is very important to live and enjoy what God has given you here and now. Remember: in the LORD’S PRAYER, Jesus did not tell us to pray for next year’s bread, but for today’s bread or sustenance. If things are going fine for you now, why ruin it by looking ahead at some uncertain event in the future?

Second Suggestion: The second suggestion is to be aware of the foolishness of worry. If worry did any good, I would advise you to do it—but it is wasted time and energy. Worry is usually best handled by accepting the fact that you can only do what God makes it possible for you to do; and so when it comes to other people and what they do (even if they be close relatives), little good is done by worrying about them. Pray for them, certainly. But don’t let that time of prayer become a time of worry. I’ll bet that most people, including myself, have suffered more from things that never happened than from things that actually did happen. Giving up our happiness by suffering for things that never did or will happen is an awful price to pay for the loss of our happiness.

Being Thankful: Today we are being especially thankful for the fact that the Latin mass has been celebrated here at ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC CHURCH for ten years. I think most credit should go to Monsignor Schulte. To speak a bit philosophically, I would say he was the prime mover. Also thanks to our Bishop—especially for his presence today and encouragement throughout the years. I think I can say that (for many of us) we were like birds flying here and there before we finally found our nesting place. Maybe at times we didn’t have too much confidence. All we can say is that our heavenly Father was looking out for us. And we are grateful to our present pastor, Father Matthew Cushing. Thanks to our visiting choir members who helped to enhance the singing for today. Saint Francis of Assisi used to say that the birds praised God just by their flying around. We as “trusting birds” are hopefully praising God by our presence here today at this Mass.

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Follow the Discussion on Facebook

Filed Under: Articles Tagged With: Valentine Young SERMON Last Updated: September 4, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

About Jeff Ostrowski

Jeff Ostrowski holds his B.M. in Music Theory from the University of Kansas (2004). He resides with his wife and children in Los Angeles.—(Read full biography).

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

Quick Thoughts

    26 January 2023 • FEEDBACK
    “Jeff, I wanted to personally thank you for your spiritual witness at the Symposium & often blogs that you write too. Praying that prayer in the mornings My God, my Father and my all (by Cardinal Merry Del Val), mentioning saints’ stories of Brébeuf, Jogues, John Vianney, monks who fought in WWII, their hard work in spite of terrible conditions, their relentless zeal for the faith, their genuine love for the laypeople they served, etc. Overall though—more than anything concrete I can point to that you did or said—it was your demeanor at the Symposium. I could tell you really absolutely love and believe the Catholic Faith. You don’t get that everywhere, even in Church circles. And your humility is what then makes that shine even brighter. It is super inspiring! God is working through you probably way more than you know.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Symposium Draft Schedule Released!
    Those who head over to the Symposium Website will notice the tentative schedule for 2023 has been released. This is all very exciting! Very soon, we will begin accepting applications, so please make sure you have subscribed to our mailing list. If you are subscribed, that means you'll hear announcements before anyone else. (It’s incredibly easy to subscribe to our mailing list; just scroll to the bottom of any blog article and enter your email address.)
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl
    The editor of the Sacred Music Magazine recently made available to the public this splendid article by our own Charles Weaver. It includes an edition of polyphony for the GOOD FRIDAY “Reproaches.” Renaissance composers often set the various offices of Holy Week; e.g. readers will probably be familiar with the beautiful TENEBRAE setting by Father Tomás Luis de Victoria (d. 1611). From what I can tell, Ludwig Senfl (d. 1543) was originally a Catholic priest, but eventually was seduced by Luther and ended up abandoning the sacred priesthood.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

The Council of Trent taught: “In this divine sacrifice which takes place at Mass, the same Christ is present and is immolated in an unbloody manner, Who once on the Cross offered Himself in a bloody manner. For the victim is one and the same, now offering through the ministry of priests, Who then offered Himself on the Cross; only the manner of offering is different” (Session XXII, cap. 2, Denzinger, n. 940).

— Pope Pius XII (2 November 1954)

Recent Posts

  • 26 January 2023 • FEEDBACK
  • Symposium Draft Schedule Released!
  • What is the Tonic Accent?
  • Good Friday Polyphony by L. Senfl
  • PDF Download • 1909 “Modern Notation” Gradual (Extremely Rare) — 712 Pages

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2023 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.