9781644135945

The Light of the World
Epistle of the Mass, a love for God that is inseparably connected with love for our neighbor.
“Dearly beloved, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, being lovers of the
brotherhood, merciful, modest, humble; not rendering evil for evil, nor railing for railing, but
contrariwise, blessing” (Epistle). Since we need a powerful means of grace for putting this heroic
love into practice, we pray in the Gradual: “Behold, O God our protector, . . . give ear to the
prayers of Thy servants.” The Alleluia verse assures us that our prayers for the spirit of charity will
be answered: “In Thy strength, O Lord, the king [the baptized] shall joy; and in Thy salvation
he shall rejoice exceedingly.” The Gospel also announces a message of Christian charity, and
is addressed especially to those who participate in today’s celebration of the Sacrifice of the
Mass: “If, therefore, thou offer thy gift at the altar, and there thou remember that thy brother
hath anything against thee, leave there thy offering before the altar, and go first to be reconciled
with thy brother; and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift.” This impressive lesson we learn in
the Mass shows us the great value the Church places on the spirit of charity.
Enlightened by the instruction we have received, we prepare for the Holy Sacrifice, imploring
our Lord to give us the strength to follow the principles He has given us. With the visible
elements of the sacrifice, the bread and wine, we lay on the altar our wills, that they may be
formed in true Christian charity. There before our eyes the new Calvary becomes really and
truly present, where Christ sacrifices once again the last drop of His precious blood. We hear
Him utter His astounding confession of love: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do” (Lk 23:34). In the Consecration of the Mass the message of the Gospel and the Epistle are
realized, for here is a love that renders good for evil, blessing for railing, making no reply to the
most cruel persecutors except one of mercy and forgiveness. Taking this magnificent sacrifice
of love into our hands, we offer it up to the heavenly Father in thanksgiving for all the graces we
have received since our baptism. We offer it in expiation for our many offenses against charity,
imploring our Lord that through this Holy Sacrifice our hearts may be united to His. We ask
that we may share in His spirit and in the love of His heart. Like Christ, we forgive all those
who have offended us, and during this sacrifice we pray with the Redeemer and in His spirit:
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Since our prayers, our sacrifices, our merits and graces belong to every other member of
the mystical body, being contained, as it were, in the heart of Christ, we pray: “Our Father, . . .
give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us; . . . deliver us from evil.” We reach the climax of Christian charity when we receive
Holy Communion, for there we find one food, one spirit, one thought, one goal. “For we, being
many, are one bread, one body, all that partake of one bread” (1 Cor 10:17). Here Christ is “our
peace” (Eph 2:14), permeating us with His spirit, the spirit of love. Here at His holy table, “in
the house of the Lord” (Communion), Christian charity is taught and implanted in the hearts
of Christians. Here we learn to love, and our love is renewed and strengthened for the search
for supernatural love. It is our duty to put into practice in our daily lives what we have received
through the Holy Sacrifice.
Meditation
Today we commemorate the Sunday after the feast of SS. Peter and Paul. In times past this feast
of Peter and Paul was one of the greatest feasts of the year, and in Rome all the bishops of the
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