9781644135945

The Light of the World
occasional act or intention, but a good habit of seeking God first. In all things we should look
to Christ and to God first, accepting all sacrifices and trials as coming from His hand.
“Pour forth Thy love into our hearts.” Love makes us forgetful of ourselves and ready to sacrifice
everything rather than displease God in the smallest matter. Love values the happiness of pleasing
Him above every other good, and renders us more jealous of our friendship with Him than
of that with anyone else in this world. Such a love considers His slightest wish as a command.
Such a love disregards mere human considerations, despises the threats or enticements of those
who would turn it away from the will of God, which it wishes to see accomplished in all things.
Who can lead us to the possession of such a love? Holy Mother the Church teaches us that
we must pray and sacrifice with her in order to obtain it. Let us place this petition on the paten
which our Lord holds in His hands as He offers Himself with us and for us today. His prayer
will make our petition efficacious with the Father, for during Holy Communion the ardor of
His divine love for the Father will be ours also.
The more intensely and the more purely we love, the more we sanctify Christ in our hearts
and lives, showing forth His nature and His spirit.
Prayer
O God, who hast prepared invisible goods for those who love Thee, pour forth Thy love into
our hearts, that loving Thee in all things and above all things, we may be worthy to receive Thy
promises, which exceed all our desires. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Friday
“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 to
thy brother; and then coming thou shalt offer thy gift” (Gospel).
“Blessed are the peacemakers” (Mt 5:9). Our Lord and Savior knows no “eye for an eye, and
a tooth for a tooth.” Rather He came into this world as the Prince of Peace. “On earth peace
to men of good will” (Lk 2:14), sang the angels on the holy night of His birth. “Peace be to
you” ( Jn 20:21), He greets His apostles. When leaving this world He leaves His peace with
us. He commands His apostles to bring peace into the houses they enter (Mt 10:12). Their
feet should be “shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:15). “The peace of
God, which surpasseth all understanding” (Phil 4:7), is the end of their apostolic work. Christ
Himself is the living peace. His soul knows no storms, but only the strong and deep peace of
being safe in God. Even when His enemies speak evil against Him, even when they annoy
Him and offend Him, even when they scourge Him, and crown Him with thorns, and crucify
Him, He is neither excited nor disturbed. His life always is a life of peace. In His presence
turbulent minds grow calm, and even those possessed by evil spirits become peaceful. The
rage of the furious sea subsides in His presence, tears are dried, and even God’s just anger with
the wickedness of humanity is disarmed. His peace-loving soul and His message of peace are
the weapons wherewith He conquers His enemies and protects His followers. How much
injustice they inflicted on Him! With how much evil they pursued Him! What good reason
466