Mass was offered this morning for the peaceful repose of the soul of Anthony Lecky (+), and also for his family and friends, those who love him. It has been the first time that I have said a Sunday Mass in church without anybody else present, and it is truly bizarre. I made sure to belt it out, anyway, for Christ was there, and a crowd of angels and Saints, for as the Book of Apocalypse says,
"I saw a great multitude, past all counting, taken from all nations and tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne in the Lamb’s presence, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands, and cried with a loud voice, 'To our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, all saving power belongs.' And all the angels that were standing round the throne, round the elders and the living figures, fell prostrate before the throne and paid God worship; 'Amen,' they cried, 'blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength belong to our God through endless ages, Amen.' And now one of the elders turned to me, and asked, 'Who are they, and whence do they come, these who are robed in white?' 'My Lord,' said I, 'thou canst tell me.' 'These,' he said, 'have come here out of the great affliction; they have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. And now they stand before God’s throne, serving him day and night in his temple; the presence of him who sits on the throne shall overshadow them.'" - Apocalypse 7: 9-15
Our parishioners were all remembered, as usual. The Gospel, as those of you who are following the Mass either by yourselves or via the livestreaming on the internet, was rather long today, the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. The key to that story is that Christ allowed four days to pass before he arrived at the tomb of Lazarus. Saint Martha is clear about it, when she says that there will be a frightful stench if they reopened the tomb. Then it is that Christ makes the request again for faith in Him, and He is glorified in what follows. A blessed and holy Sunday to you all.
