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The Light of the World
We work, not so much in dread of the coming judgment, as with a consciousness of our unity
with our Redeemer, who will one day clothe our miserable bodies in the garments of His glory.
Of what value are money, riches, earthly pleasures and joys, honor and distinction, in comparison
to those things that await us in eternity? Of what importance are the sufferings, sacrifices,
humiliations, and trials of this present life when we remember the things that are promised us
in heaven? “For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with
the glory to come that shall be revealed in us” (Rom 8:18). “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love
Him” (1 Cor 2:9).
There are two types of Christians: those who “are enemies of the cross of Christ; . . . whose God
is their belly, who mind earthly things,” and those whose “conversation is in heaven” with the
glorified Redeemer. These latter await His coming with desire. “For to me to live is Christ, and
to die is gain. . . . Having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ” (Phil 1:21, 23).
“From whence also we look for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.” This thought applies
not only to the end of time, which is perhaps in the far distant future, but to this very day,
particularly in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Christ comes in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
and in Holy Communion with the same power and strength that He demonstrated in today’s
Gospel in curing the woman with the issue of blood and in raising to life the daughter of Jairus.
The Mass is a prelude to our glorification in heaven. The eventual resurrection and glorification
which we await as members of His mystical body, will be the more surely ours, the more
firmly and the more deeply we become incorporated in Him through Holy Communion. “He
that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up in the
last day. . . . He that eateth this bread shall live forever” ( Jn 6:55, 59).
Prayer
Remit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy people, that by Thy kindness we may be delivered
from the trammels of our sins, in which through our frailty we have become entangled.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Monday
Holy Mother the Church is mindful of all her children and loves them all. It is her desire that all
of them attain eternal life, and in this desire she includes even the people of Israel, once God’s
chosen people. In the last days they are to return to the Lord, for He is a God of mercy and peace.
“At that time, as Jesus was speaking to the multitudes, behold a certain ruler came up and adored
Him, saying: Lord, my daughter is even now dead; but come lay Thy hand upon her, and she
shall live. And Jesus, rising up, followed him with His disciples. And behold a woman, who
was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind Him and touched the hem of
His garment. For she said within herself: If I shall touch only His garment, I shall be healed. . . .
And the woman was made whole from that hour. And when Jesus was come into the house
of the ruler and saw the minstrels and the multitude making a tumult, He said: Give place; for
the girl is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn. And when the multitude was
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