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The Light of the World
The Epistle describes in detail the characteristics of the new man which we must put on, the
ideal Christian. “As newborn babes, desire the rational milk [of Christian doctrine and Christian
principles] . . . that thereby you may grow unto salvation; if so be you have tasted that the Lord
is sweet. Unto whom coming as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen and made
honorable by God; be you also as living stones built up, a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. . . . The same is made the head of
the corner; and a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal to them who stumble at the word [the
gospel of Christ], neither do believe. . . . But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a
holy nation, a purchased people [by the death of Christ]; that you may declare His virtues, who
hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God.” This is the ideal Christian. This is the new man who is incorporated
in Christ through baptism. Would that we could shape our souls after the model given us
in the Epistle! Would that we truly understood our dignity as Christians, the importance of our
incorporation in Christ, the sublimity of our kingly priesthood! It is our vocation to declare His
wondrous deeds and to proclaim that He has called us to His wonderful life.
Full of joy the Church greets the neophytes as they offer their gifts at the altar. “Blessed is
He that cometh in the name of the Lord. We have blessed you out of the house of the Lord”
(Offertory). To Him I consecrate myself; for Him I shall live. “He hath shone upon us, alleluia.”
We walk in His life. “The Lord brought forth His people with joy, alleluia; and His chosen ones
with gladness, alleluia” (Introit). “This is the day which the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and
be glad therein, alleluia. Praise the Lord, O ye His servants” (Gradual).
“All you who have been baptized in Christ, have put on Christ, alleluia” (Communion).
For the liturgy the reception of Holy Communion is putting on Christ. We laid aside the visible
baptismal garments; but in place of them we make our whole life an invisible garment that
should never be laid aside. “You have put on Christ.” As in baptism we have become a branch
of the vine, so in the reception of Holy Communion this union is deepened and renewed. In
virtue of this Communion we shall live the life of Christ and put on His manner, His virtue, His
purity. “I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me” (Gal 2:20). This new life the liturgy expects
of the baptized.
Prayer
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we who have kept the Easter festivities with veneration,
may by them be found worthy to come to eternal joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
First Sunday after Easter
The Mass
The Masses of Easter week refer frequently to the newly baptized. Clothed in their white robes,
the neophytes have been coming daily to the Holy Sacrifice. Yesterday, on Saturday of Easter
week, they laid aside these garments, which are still preserved in a nearby room as mute but
eloquent witnesses of their baptism and of the obligations thereby undertaken. Today, on what
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