9781644135945

The Light of the World
the time for mercy, the time for repentance and conversion, the time of grace, is past. Only
one thing remains, and that is an eternity in hell. This is the eternal penalty of sin. While man
is still on earth, sin can be expiated; once he has passed into eternity, it is too late. Let us,
then, do our good works and perform our penances while we have time. Let us “commend
ourselves to God in much patience, in fasting, in the armor of justice” (Antiphon for Sext);
that is, through a holy Christian life.
In the Offertory we are reminded of the true Moses, Christ. He comes in the Mass to offer
Himself to the Father as a victim for our sins. He comes to make satisfaction for us, to
pacify His Father, and to obtain forgiveness for men. At the Consecration we receive Him
into our hands and raise Him up to heaven saying: “Why, O Lord, art Thou angry with
Thy people? Let the anger of Thy soul be appeased.” Remember Thy Son, who on the tree
of the holy cross poured out His blood; and for His sake have mercy on us. “And the Lord
was appeased from the evil which He had threatened to do to His people” (Offertory). At
the Communion the Father gives His Son the kiss of peace; now we, too, have peace, for
we are again the children of God, living members of Christ. At Easter, Christ will be able to
take us with Him to the Father. “He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, abideth
in Me and I in him” (Communion).
Which was the more fortunate, the poor Lazarus or the rich worldling? What has happened
to the riches and the pleasures of the rich worldling? Money and riches led him
astray, and now he is buried in hell. “Woe to you that are rich” (Lk 6:24). There is indeed
great danger in wealth. “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm
[the perishable goods of this earth, such as money, pleasure, and position], and whose
heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like a tamaric in the desert” (Epistle). O
unhappy worldling!
“Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence.
And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards
moisture; and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall
be green, . . . neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit” (Epistle). Such is the
poor, sick Lazarus.
“The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable; who can know it? I am the Lord
who search the heart and prove the reins, who give to every one according to his way, and
according to the fruit of his devices; saith the Lord Almighty” (Epistle) both to the glutton
and to Lazarus.
He who humbles himself, as did poor Lazarus, he who does penance for his sins, acknowledges
them with humility, and performs good works to expiate them, will be heard. “Do
penance.”
Prayer
Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the assistance of Thy grace, that being duly intent on fasting
and prayer, we may be delivered from the enemies of soul and body.
Hear, O Lord, Thy servants, and shower perpetual kindness upon those who ask it; that to
those who glory in Thee, their Creator and Ruler, Thou mayest restore an abundance of good
things, and preserve what Thou dost restore. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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