9781644135945

The Easter Cycle
This, then, is our world, our entire inheritance, our sole good. There, in our soul, He listens to
our petitions and speaks to our hearts. In that sanctuary I can approach Him and speak to Him.
“I will go and see this great sight” (Ex 3:3). This sanctuary is a holy place. Like Moses,
we must first put off our shoes before approaching; that is, we must put aside all the inordinate
desires of our hearts. We must leave all things behind, and seek nothing from this
world; we must be truly spiritual, truly detached from all things of this world, no matter
how much they may attract us. We must “salute no man by the way” (Lk 10:4), and be dependent
on no creature. We must not be slaves either of our work or of our prayer. We must
not be disturbed by what our neighbor does, nor become dejected when we are deserted
by others or when others ridicule us. Humiliations and sickness must not dismay us. Even
our own will we must renounce. Our petty thoughts and desires, our pride, and all self-love,
self-conceit, and self-satisfaction must be suppressed. “I go to the Father,” casting aside all
things and leaving behind me all that is not of God, even if this renunciation cause me pain,
and even if I feel myself most strongly attracted by the world. Our thoughts, our feelings,
our desires, our ambitions, must all be centered on the Lord. We must let “the dead bury
their dead” (Mt 8:22), and pursue our course courageously in the land of the living. We
should not allow ourselves to become attached to anything, or to become dependent on
anything. We must see through unworldly eyes, rise above all the vanities of the world, and
free ourselves from that restless activity which is the driving force in the lives of worldly
men. “I go to the Father.” This is the mystery of our resurrection with Christ.
“I go to the Father” when I offer the Mass. There upon the golden paten I place all that this day
may bring of labor, or suffering, or hardship, and offer it all to the Father. This is the precious
offering of love. “Not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Mt 26:39). “Thy will be done.” Thus again at
the beginning of the day we separate ourselves from the old man, the man of selfishness, the man
who is attached to the fleeting things of this world. In this spirit of sacrifice we free our souls from
every inordinate appetite and inclination, and beg the Lord that we may belong entirely to Him.
“I go to the Father” under all circumstances, and not merely in times of trial and difficulty.
I go to Him even with the mistakes I have made. These mistakes should not make us uneasy,
sad, depressed, or angry with ourselves. We should rather hasten to our Father and humble
ourselves before Him, recognizing and acknowledging our own weakness and unworthiness.
Then we should ask for forgiveness and for the strength to be more faithful and more circumspect
in the future.
“I go to the Father” with a steadfast petition that He may liberate me completely from
myself, and grant me to be truly poor in spirit, that He may grant me a deep and all-embracing
faith, that He may grant me an ardent love for Christ, that He may grant me perfect conformity
of my will to the eternal, divine will. This is the life that is proper to one who is risen with Christ.
Such a Christian may look forward to a blessed ascension.
Prayer
O God, grant to Thy people to love that which Thou commandest and to desire that which
Thou dost promise; so that amid the changing things of this world, our hearts may be set where
true joys are to be found. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday
after Easter.)
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