9781644135945

The Light of the World
lives ought to be characterized by a burning zeal for the salvation of all men. If God has promised
us eternal life, is He not entitled to our entire service? Has He not a right to our complete
subjection to His holy will? As a matter of fact, what is the measure of the sacrifices we make?
Indeed, it is time that we rise from sleep, today at the beginning of the new ecclesiastical year,
during this holy season of Advent.
“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Epistle). We must put off the old man and put on the
new. This new man must share the life of Jesus Christ in spirit and in truth. Christ did not
intend to be merely an exemplar and a model for us. No, He wishes to be much more than
that. He is the vine giving life to the branches and making it possible for them to bloom and
to bring forth fruit.
“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” We understand this as meaning that we are to live His
life, that we are to love what He loved, that we are to cherish poverty, self-denial, the cross, and
intimate union with the Father. We are to fashion our life after His. We are to seek the will of the
Father in all things, to strive ceaselessly to promote His honor, and to work continually for the
salvation of souls. We should imitate His virtues, especially His humility and His modesty, and
should copy His goodness and mildness toward all men. We should reproduce in ourselves His
love for His enemies and His horror for sin and for all that may displease the heavenly Father.
“Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Let us understand that He wishes us to be real members
of His body, living branches of the vine, in order that His holiness, even His very thoughts, may
become ours and live in us. This is the true message that Advent brings to us. “Today if you
shall hear His voice, harden not your hearts” (Ps 94:8). It is time for us now to rise from sleep
and be renewed in Christ Jesus.
To “put on the Lord Jesus Christ” is an ambitious program, but it is my task for the coming
year. Everything I encounter during the coming year should be used to advance my perfect
union with Christ. During the coming ecclesiastical year I shall share in the grace and the
redemption of Christ to the extent to which I incorporate myself in Christ and live in union
with Him. My progress in the spiritual life will be measured by the degree of my incorporation
in the life of Christ, by my success in my attempts to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” “Put ye on
the Lord Jesus Christ.” The liturgy of the Church year will help me to accomplish this program.
It will place in my hands the means necessary for this purpose; foremost among these means
are the Sacrifice of the Mass and Holy Communion. We understand clearly the magnitude
of the task that lies before us, but we see also the efficacy of the means placed at our disposal:
“The Lord will give goodness,” that is, Christ in the Holy Eucharist, “and our earth [our soul]
shall yield her fruit” (Communion). Why, then, should I shrink before the magnitude of the
task? “I can do all things in Him who strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:13). I shall draw near to the
Church and her holy liturgy, and she will unite me more closely to Christ, and open to me
the fountains of His grace.
Prayer
Protect us, O Lord, who devote ourselves to Thy holy mysteries, that we may give ourselves up
entirely to the things of God, and serve Thee with our whole body and soul. Amen.
I beseech Thee, O Lord, send Him whom Thou hast promised. See the great need of Thy
people. Come and redeem us as Thou hast promised. (Responsory at Matins.)
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