9781644135945

The Light of the World
Prayer
Grant, O Lord, by these mysteries, that we may learn to subdue our worldly desires and love
the things of heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Secreta.)
Tuesday
“Alleluia. The Lord hath sent redemption to His people, alleluia.” The Mass of the third Sunday
after Easter is built on this theme; it is permeated by the spirit of gladness. “Shout with joy to God,
all the earth, alleluia. Sing ye a psalm to His name, alleluia” (Introit). Easter, the Resurrection of
the Lord, is our awakening to a new life of grace. It brings us the promise that we shall one day
awaken to a life of glory. “How terrible are Thy works, O Lord!” (Introit.) “Praise the Lord, O
my soul. In my life I will praise the Lord” (Offertory).
“The Lord hath sent redemption to His people.” This deliverance is first of all from the tyranny
of the flesh. “Dearly beloved, I beseech you, as strangers and pilgrims, to refrain yourselves from
carnal desires, which war against the soul” (Epistle). “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not
to the flesh to live according to the flesh, for if you live according to the flesh, you shall die; but
if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live. . . . The wisdom of the flesh is
an enemy to God, for it is not subject to the law of God; neither can it be. And they who are
in the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:12 f., 7 f.). Through the holy sacraments of baptism,
penance, and the Eucharist, the Lord has made it possible for us to “refrain from carnal desires.”
Mary and Joseph are shining examples of unsullied purity and perfect chastity and virginity;
they were perfectly detached from all inordinate worldly desires. They overcame the unruly
tendencies toward pride, impatience, anger, envy, self-love, and self-seeking. Their lives were
pure and devoted to the love of God and of Christ. Their one concern in life was to do the will
of God and what was pleasing to Him. They were victorious over the desires and the movements
of the flesh. They were truly redeemed.
“The Lord hath sent redemption to His people.” God has given us also the power to
overcome our lower sensual nature, our passions and our evil inclinations. We are redeemed.
Though by ourselves we are weak and helpless, we are yet able to overcome our evil inclinations
and to conquer in the struggle for purity and holiness. “I can do all things in Him who
strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13). Ah, had we but the deep living faith so evident in the liturgy of
today’s Mass! “The Lord hath sent redemption to His people, alleluia.”
“Have your conversation good among the gentiles.” That is the admonition given by St.
Peter in the Epistle. In truth, “you are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14). “For you were heretofore
darkness, but now light in the Lord. Walk, then, as children of the light” (Eph 5:8). “So let
your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father, who
is in heaven” (Mt 5:16); that is, may they learn to know God and Christ and be led to them. A
holy mission indeed! “For so is the will of God, that by doing well you may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men.” The Epistle further commands us explicitly to obey our legitimate
rulers: “Be ye subject, therefore, to every human creature for God’s sake.” Christian freedom
does not release us from the authority of the state or the Church, or from the obligations of
our state of life. Furthermore, this Epistle admonishes us to honor everyone and to practice
fraternal charity: “Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear God; honor the king.” Finally we
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