9781644135945

The Light of the World
weakness), but the struggle is “against the principalities and powers, against the rulers of the
world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places” (Epistle). For this
struggle God provides us with strong armor: “your loins girt about with truth, and having on
the breastplate of justice, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in all
things taking the shield of faith, wherewith you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of
the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit,
which is the word of God” (Epistle).
The Gradual resumes the theme of the Introit. By gazing on the majesty of God, who existed
“before the mountains were made, or the earth and the world was formed,” the Christian
soul acquires strength and stability. What is man in comparison to such a God? Only a miserable
sinner. Yet God willingly forgives us our sins if we ask Him; but we must also freely forgive others
(Gospel). Then we may hope for strength and help from God in overcoming the enemy of
our salvation, as Job, an upright and God-fearing man, victoriously and persistently waged his
fight against Satan with heroic patience. Satan tried by all manner of oppression and misfortune
to make him curse God; but Job was stronger than Satan. He put on the armor of God and
remained true and faithful to Him (Offertory).
With a firm faith in God, the Ruler of all creation, and strengthened by fasting and prayer,
Esther, the bride and queen, the Church, makes her entrance into the presence of the King.
We accompany her. With her we offer our gifts to the King. The gifts that we offer are the
body and blood of Christ, “the bread of life and the chalice of eternal salvation”; and to
this, our principal gift, we add ourselves, that we may love God and serve Him and belong
to Him entirely. With Job, who is also a type of the suffering and humiliated Christ, we
are prepared to submit completely to the will of God and to suffer whatever difficulties or
crosses He may send to us. For the armor and the protection we need in this struggle with
the powers of evil, we go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We receive the breastplate of
justice and holiness, the shield of faith, the helmet of invincible conviction that we shall
conquer and be saved. At Holy Communion we receive salvation in Christ. Christ, who
was not found wanting in trials and tribulations, lives in His Church and in us. He, like
another Job, conquers and overcomes all His enemies through His patient subjection to
the will of God. He conquers the evil spirits, the princes of this world, and the enemies of
the Church through us, who are His members. Through the reception of Communion and
our union with Christ, we obtain repose of soul and eternal salvation. Christ has solemnly
promised: “He that eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me” ( Jn 6:58). This is the “food
of immortality” (Postcommunion). At Mass we shall gain the strength necessary to forgive
and pardon those who have offended us, that we ourselves may await the Day of Judgment
with faith and confidence in the mercy of God.
Meditation
The Church is the new Israel, which, departing from the land of Egypt (this present world) is
being led into the promised land of eternity (Alleluia verse). Between the time of our departure
from Egypt (our baptism) and the time of our entrance into the promised land (the hour of our
death) we are beset on all sides by the enemies of our salvation. But we shall be victorious. We
have in our hands the weapons which give us the assurance of victory.
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