9781644135945

The Time After Pentecost
of the world; we knew only the natural struggle for existence. We were deaf to God, for our ears
were not attuned to the things that are God’s. When He restored the power of hearing to us
who were deaf, we became Christians and listened attentively for the voice from above, for the
whisperings of God dwelling within us, and for the inspirations of the Holy Spirit. From then
on we understood the language of God. We came to look at life from the viewpoint of God and
the gospel; we suddenly realized that the wisdom of this world and its judgment and principles
are foolishness, and that the ideals that the world despises and condemns are true wisdom in the
sight of God. “The wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God” (Rom 8:7). “The Lord chose not
them [men of renown], neither did they find the way of knowledge. . . . And because they had
not wisdom, they perished through their folly” (Bar 3:27 f.). He gave us the spirit of wisdom
and understanding of the things that are God’s. We therefore count earthly things for nothing;
we bear with patience the vicissitudes and sufferings of life. Our foremost desire is to be united
with God, who dwells, loves, and works within us, to listen to His inspirations and suggestions,
and to draw ever nearer to our heavenly goal. “Rejoice to God our helper; sing aloud to the God
of Jacob” (Gradual).
“He hath made . . . the dumb to speak.” While we were yet separated from Christ and His
life, the Lord loosed our tongue in the sacrament of baptism and united us to Himself. From
now on we are allowed to approach the Father as children. “You have received the spirit of adoption
of sons, whereby we cry: Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15). In baptism the word of the prophet
has been fulfilled in us: “I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of
Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of prayers” (Zac 12:10). United with Christ, we may speak to
the Father with confidence, but even more: as the deaf and dumb man in the Gospel “spoke
right,” we likewise have been granted the grace of speaking to the Father in a manner that is
pleasing to Him. Since the Lord has united us with Himself, He makes our prayers a part of
His intercessions with the Father; thus we pray and speak to the Father in Christ, with Christ,
and through Christ. It is not our voice, however, which the Father hears; it is rather the voice
of Him in whom He is well pleased. We pray in the name of Jesus ( Jn 14:13); that is, in closest
unity with Him and through Him. When we pray and speak to the Father, the word of the Lord
is fulfilled: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and
it shall be done unto you” ( Jn 15:7). We have no reason to fear that our praying and speaking
will not please the Father, for we pray in Jesus Christ. The power of our prayer is the result of
our baptism, of our union with Christ. “He hath made . . . the dumb to speak.”
“I will extol Thee, O Lord, for Thou hast upheld me and hast not made my enemies to rejoice
over me” (Offertory). The sacrifice of today’s Mass must be a sacrifice of thanksgiving to Him
who has cured us in baptism and has poured out His gifts to us in abundance. “Let us give
thanks to the Lord our God.”
“God in His holy place; God who maketh men of one mind to dwell in a house; He shall
give power and strength to His people” (Introit). These words taken from the sixty-seventh
psalm are a hymn of triumph, the triumph of the Church. God’s place is heaven, whither
He will lead us, His people, with wonderful power and strength. Though the road will pass
through the desert of this earthly life, and enemies will oppress us from all sides, He will be
our protection. The Lord bestows unity, perfection, and strength on His Church. Through
baptism we have become members of God’s people. In the Mass let us again profess our
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