9781644135945

The Light of the World
of our Christian life began at the time of our baptism. The seed that was planted in our soul then
is the source of our supernatural life and must be brought to maturity and perfection. When
this end is accomplished, we shall be prepared for the “day of Christ Jesus,” that is, for the day of
His return, for the day of our particular judgment, and for the general judgment. It is the prayer
of the Church and of the Apostle that “you may be sincere and without offense unto the day of
Christ, filled with the fruit of justice through Jesus Christ” (Epistle).
The best preparation for the return of Christ is the practice of fraternal charity and a life
dedicated to the service of the community and our fellow men. Charity “is the bond of perfection”
(Col 3:14), “the fulfilling of the law” (Rom 13:10), the mark of the true Christian, and
a guarantee of mercy for its possessor when Christ returns. St. Paul today exhorts his hearers:
“That your charity may more and more abound.” “Where there are two or three gathered together
in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Mt 18:20). The Christian community
gathered together to offer the Holy Sacrifice is united by a spirit of true Christian charity. Such
a community is one in heart and soul, and it sings the song of brotherhood in the bonds of love:
“Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity” (Gradual).
The spirit of love for our brethren is the best preparation for a fruitful celebration of the Holy
Sacrifice. We readily and willingly obey the command of Christ, “Render therefore to Caesar
the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Gospel).
“Render . . . to God the things that are God’s.” We carry out this duty at the celebration of Mass.
At the Consecration, Christ, the Son of God, appears in our midst. He places Himself at our
disposal as a pure offering to be made to His heavenly Father. In offering Him we “render . . .
to God the things that are God’s,” for we offer to Him His own Son; we offer God to God, we
offer the Son to the Father with all His merits and riches. “Through Him, and with Him, and
in Him is to Thee, O God, . . . all honor and glory.”
To this unspotted offering we join ourselves, our bodies, our souls, our hearts, our wills,
our prayers, our works, our virtues, our miseries, our sacrifices, our difficulties, and those of the
whole Church. “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
God showers His blessings upon such a community. This blessing is given to us particularly at
the time of Holy Communion. We have not asked in vain: “If Thou, O Lord, wilt mark iniquities,
Lord, who shall stand it? For with Thee is merciful forgiveness” (Introit). “I have cried,
for Thou hast heard me” (Communion). My resolution is made. I will offer to the one God a
loving sacrifice with the community, with the whole Church. “Render therefore to Caesar the
things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Meditation
Two thoughts are expressed by the Church today with regard to the certain and imminent
return of the Lord: we must attain perfection before the “day of Christ” (Epistle), and we, the
members of the Church, still are far from perfect.
The liturgy expects that we will have reached perfection by the time the Lord returns. On the
day of our death the work which God began in us at the time of our baptism should be complete.
With tender love God implanted “the good work” of Christian life in us. He provided all the
graces and powers which we needed to reach perfection. Daily and each hour of the day He
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