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The Easter Cycle
Jesus is the shepherd of those who have been baptized and confirmed. “To him the porter
openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name and leadeth them
out. And when he hath led out his own sheep he goeth before them; and the sheep follow him
because they know his voice” (Gospel). Christ is likewise the gate for all His sheep, the only
gate by which the sheep can enter into the fold to spend the night in the enclosure. Anyone
who would seek to lead and pasture the sheep of Christ without His authorization “is a thief
and a robber,” who leads the sheep to destruction. He who comes to the sheep through Christ
and with the proper authorization will be saved. He will find the best pasture for the sheep,
since he acts in the name of Christ and by His authority. Only in Christ and through His
properly authorized minister may we find life and find it more abundantly. Such life can be had
only from him to whom Christ said, “All power is given to Me in heaven and in earth. Going,
therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and
of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”
(Mt 28:18–20). Such life can be had only from Christ living in His Church, in His apostles,
in His bishops, and in His priests. “Amen, I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth
shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also
in heaven” (Mt 18:18).
The life given by baptism must grow; it is strengthened and brought to perfection by the reception
of confirmation. By means of this life we are incorporated in Christ and in the living
organism of the Church. Nowhere else and in no other way can we find life, experience growth,
or achieve perfection. Everywhere else we find only empty pretense, evil, and death. How
fortunate we are to be members of the true Church of Christ, and to be under the protection
of the shepherds appointed by Christ! How thankful we should be! But we should also pray
and offer the Holy Sacrifice for all who remain outside the fold of the Church, and we should
act as apostles to all who are in the hands of those who have not entered the sheepfold through
the right gate. Our own spiritual riches obliges us to practice charity toward those who are
spiritually destitute.
“The Lord opened the doors of heaven and rained down manna upon them to eat; He
gave them the bread of heaven; man ate the bread of angels, alleluia” (Offertory). Baptism,
confirmation, and the Eucharist provide us with the abundance of life.
“The Spirit who proceedeth from the Father, alleluia; He shall glorify Me, alleluia, alleluia”
(Communion). At the time of Holy Communion Jesus pours forth the Holy Ghost into our
hearts. He is the Spirit of life, of love, of strength, of sanctity. He forms us very much in the
same manner as He did the apostles at Pentecost. Our life, guided and formed by the action
of the Holy Ghost, becomes holy and virtuous, and thus we glorify the glorified Christ who
sent the Holy Ghost to us. By the devout reception of Holy Communion, “the Holy Ghost
renews our souls” (Postcommunion). How careful, then, we should be to receive Communion
as worthily as possible.
Prayer
Grant we beseech Thee, O Lord, that the power of the Holy Ghost may abide in us;
may it mercifully cleanse our hearts and defend us from all danger. Through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
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