9781644135945

The Easter Cycle
mourn. . . . Blessed are they that suffer persecution” (Mt 5:3 ff.). How we lack the true spirit of
Christ! How poorly we understand!
When we participate in the Mass, we see Christ in His suffering and death. We believe with
firm faith that by His suffering and death He redeemed the world, opened heaven for us, and
earned for us the grace of eternal life. But once we have returned to our homes it seems that
we forget all that we saw and believed during the Mass. We do not yet properly understand the
mystery of the crucifixion and the resurrection. “O foolish and slow of heart, to believe in all
things which the prophets have spoken. Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and so
to enter into His glory?” (Lk 24:25 f.) “I am the way, the truth, and the life” ( Jn 14:6). Lord,
increase our faith.
Prayer
O God, who bringest blessings out of all things for those who love Thee, grant us to be disposed
to love Thee with a love that is unfailing so that no temptation may destroy the longing that
Thou hast awakened in our hearts. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fourth Sunday after Easter
The Mass
The unfolding of the Easter mysteries presses forward with steady stride. Now already we catch
a glimpse of the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will bring the Easter season to a close with an
all-pervading baptism of the spirit. “It is expedient to you that I go; for if I go not, the Paraclete
will not come to you” (Gospel). He will come and complete the victory of Christ in the world,
in the Church, and in the souls of men. He will convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and
of judgment; He will make known all truth to the Church and to the faithful.
The Introit strikes a joyful Easter note: “Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle, alleluia; for the
Lord hath done wonderful things, alleluia. He hath revealed [by His Resurrection] His justice
in the sight of the Gentiles.” He has revealed His justice by making complete satisfaction for
us to the Father, and by having given new life through the sacrament of baptism. We are now
justified, justified even in the holy eyes of God. We are now pure and clothed in the garment
of justifying and sanctifying grace. We shine in the brilliancy of our divine adoption and in
our supernatural holiness. This is the fruit of the Easter mysteries. Full of gratitude for all that
Christ has done for us by His death and resurrection, we break forth in a joyous Gloria in
excelsis Deo. After this joyous thanksgiving follows the petition: “Grant to Thy people to love
that which Thou commandest and to desire that which Thou dost promise; so that amid the
changing things of this world, our hearts may be set where true joys are to be found” (Collect).
Thus we pray united in spirit, each praying for the other in the spirit of true Christian brotherhood.
This true Easter spirit for which we pray, is the “best gift,” the perfect gift that comes
to us from above. It is the result of the divine love and grace we share through our baptism.
“Wherefore, casting away all uncleanness and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness
receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Epistle).
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