9781644135945

The Light of the World
decisions which we must make, let us ask ourselves: “What doth it profit a man if he gain
the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul?” (Mt 16:26.) Let us live in accordance
with this principle: “But one thing is necessary” (Lk 10:42). And thus we will possess Christ
in our souls as a guiding light. “You are the light of the world. . . . Let your light shine before
men” (Mt 5:14, 16).
We must carry Christ in our will, in our heart, our deeds, and our life. We live with Him,
in accordance with His words and example, aware that His union with us is as real as that of
the body with its members and the vine with its branches. “I can do all things in Him who
strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13), who lives in me, who upholds me and fills me with His strength.
We live with Him and carry in our hearts a holy desire to love Him. In the strength of His love
we bring forth every sacrifice and strive to conquer the power of self-love. We live with Him in
blind confidence in His love, in His nearness, in His guidance, in His grace. The Lord is ever
with us to help us. We live with Him in a spirit of detachment from self and created things, in
a spirit of fearlessness of the world and the scorn and ridicule of men, with boldness for the
interests of Christ and souls.
On Candlemas Day we renew in ourselves the significance of our calling to be Christ-bearers
and to bring Christ to the world. Men today need Christ; they yearn for Christ. Our calling is
to be apostles of Christ, everyone in his proper station. The candle which we have in our hands
on Candlemas Day reminds us of our duty to be Christ-bearers.
If only we were upright, perfect Christians! But there we fail. Christianity is, for the majority
of men, a life of anxiety, uncertainty, fear, and slavishness to formula and method. Our
Christianity is burdened by so much mistrust of ourselves and others, by so much self-love,
self-seeking, and selfishness. We are Christians only in form and rule; Christians of habit, anxious
about little things. We are all too little Christian at heart, enkindled by no great desire of
doing things for Christ. Seldom are we the Christians St. Paul desires us to be: “And let the peace
of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body; and be ye thankful”
(Col 3:15). This joyful, grateful Christianity has become strange to us.
Prayer
Send forth Thy light and Thy truth to me, that they may lead me unto Thy holy hill and into
Thy tabernacles. Amen.
The Purification of Mary (4)
“Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word in peace, because my eyes
have seen Thy salvation” (Gospel). The Church places these words on the lips of the priest at
Compline, the evening prayer of the Church.
The day is drawing to a close. As we say Compline, our night prayers, our mind wanders back over
the day to make thanksgiving for the blessings of the morning, the midday, and the afternoon.
We recall the privileges that were ours at Mass, at the time of Holy Communion, and at the
hours of prayer. We remember the hours of work, the toils, temptations, and acts of self-denial
which the day has brought. We are not unmindful of the joys that were ours. Recalling all these
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