Color: White; Intent: The Wealth of Spirit
THE DIVINE MERCY COLLECT
Thou the Greatness beyond all excellence, whom Thy Holy Prophet Mani addressed as “merciful one filled with mercy,” we humbly thank Thee for having singled out Thy faithful handmaiden, Maria Faustina Kozlowska, to impart to her Thy joyous and blessed message of mercy for our time.
We also thank thee for the insight given to Thy great servant, John Paul II, who came to elevate her and her message of divine mercy to comfort and bless thy afflicted children here on earth, Thou who ever art the Rescuer of souls! Amen.
THE COLLECT
O Light of Truth, Thou knowest that we have come into this world to fulfill Thy will, but we have become forgetful of our true home which is in Thy being. Save us from the darkness of the Chaos, lest we be swallowed up in it. Rescue us, O Light, in whose radiance we have believed: Forsake us not, O power indwelling and almighty! Move our souls most powerfully, so that we may leave behind the poverty of ignorance and attain to the true wealth of Spirit in Gnosis! Amen.
THE LESSON
The Lesson is taken from the ninth chapter of the Gospel according to St. Luke:
And Jesus asked His disciples: Who say the people that I am? They answering said: John the Baptist; but some say Elias; and others say that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them: but who say ye that I am? Peter answering said: The Christ of God. And He straightly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing, saying: The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And He said to them all: If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after Me, cannot be My disciple. Likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it.
THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is taken from the Gospel according to St. Thomas:
Jesus said: I took my stand in the midst of the world and in flesh I appeared to them; I found them all drunk, I found none among them athirst. And my soul was afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their heart and do not see that empty they have come into the world and that empty they seek to go out of the world again. But now they are drunk. When they have shaken off their wine, then will they repent.
Jesus said: If the flesh has come into existence because of the spirit, it is a marvel; but if the spirit has come into existence because of the body, it is a marvel of marvels. But I marvel at how this great wealth has made its home in this poverty.
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Homily for Low Sunday by Bishop Stephan Hoeller
A Homily for the First Sunday after Easter (Low Sunday) by Bishop Steven Marshall