9781644135945

The Light of the World
“Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” He celebrates His coming today when He descends on our
altars at the Consecration of the Mass. He celebrates His coming by His union with the soul
in Holy Communion. He comes to us each time He knocks at our soul with grace. “Behold I
stand at the gate and knock” (Apoc 3:20). Since Christ is continually supplying us with grace,
our whole life may be said to be an advent. There is scarcely a moment of our life when we could
not exclaim with justice: “The time has come for us to rise from sleep. Let us lay aside the works
of darkness; prepare ye the way of the Lord.”
“Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 3:2). This is the message of John
the Baptist in the wilderness. It is also the beginning of the gospel of Christ: “Do penance, for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17). In former times good Christians sanctified the
season of Advent by increasing their prayers, their penances, and their self-denial. We should
at least try to improve our lives during this season by a more conscientious performance of the
duties of our state of life, and by a wholesome self-examination. We should now take a more
serious view of the state of our soul, and make a better use of our time. During this period the
devout Christian will make a more consistent effort to fight against his natural slothfulness and
indolence, and attempt to improve his character and dispositions. He will be more patient and
charitable toward his neighbor, and thus mortify his self-will and self-love. In this way he will
truly be preparing the way of the Lord.
“Your redemption is at hand.” “The Holy Ghost shall descend upon thee, O Mary; fear
not, for thou shalt have the Son of God in thy womb” (Benedictus antiphon at Lauds). In the
liturgical sense this reference applies not only to Mary, the mother of Jesus, but also to the
Church and to each individual soul. “Fear not, for in Holy Communion thou shalt have in thy
bosom the Son of God.”
“Your redemption is at hand.” This coming of the Redeemer is but a step toward His final
coming at the end of time. On that day our bodies, too, will share the fruits of the redemption.
The bonds of death will be broken. Our bodies are to rise from the grave clothed with garments
of heavenly splendor. In the mansions of heaven Christ will celebrate with us an eternal and
happy redemption.
Prayer
To Thee, O Lord, have I lifted up my soul. In Thee, O my God, I put my trust; let me not be
ashamed. Neither let my enemies laugh at me; for none of them that wait on Thee shall be confounded.
. . . Show, O Lord, Thy ways to me and teach me Thy paths. Direct me in Thy truth and
teach me; for Thou art God my Savior. . . . Remember, O Lord, Thy bowels of compassion, and
Thy mercies, that are from the beginning of the world. The sins of my youth and my ignorances
do not remember. According to Thy mercy remember Thou me. . . . All the ways of the Lord
are mercy and truth to them that seek after His covenant and His testimonies. For Thy name’s
sake, O Lord, Thou wilt pardon my sin. (Ps 24:1–11.)
Stir up Thy might, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and come, that from the threatening dangers
of our sins we may be rescued by Thy protection and saved by Thy deliverance, who livest and
reignest world without end. Amen. 1
1
Usually the prayer at the end of each meditation is the Collect of the Mass under
consideration.
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