9781644135945

The Light of the World
Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
The Mass
“Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see. For I say to you, that many prophets
and kings have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them; and to hear the
things that you hear, and have not heard them” (Gospel). We Christians who have come today
to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass are the people of the New Covenant to whom are
addressed the words: “Blessed are the eyes that see the things which you see.” The people of
the Old Covenant, those living before the time of Christ, are the “many prophets and kings.”
In this manner the liturgy of the twelfth Sunday after Pentecost recalls again the splendor
of the Easter mystery, revealing to us our happy lot in belonging to Christ and His kingdom
through the sacrament of baptism. It reminds us also of the duties which we assumed through
the reception of this sacrament.
During the holy night of Easter we found the way to Christ again in the sacrament of
rebirth, and we received the first beginnings of our new life through our union with
Christ. This life is a seed which must grow and mature slowly, but which is threatened
by dangers and is hemmed in by difficulties which retard its development and endanger
its very existence. Realizing these conditions, we ask for help from above in the Introit
of today’s Mass: “Incline unto my aid, O God; O Lord, make haste to help me. Let my
enemies be confounded and ashamed, who seek my soul.” In the Kyrie and the Collect
we continue our entreaties: “Grant, we beseech Thee, that we may run without hindrance
toward the attainment of Thy promises.”
Baptism has enriched us immeasurably in the union of life with Christ. The Old Testament
was a “ministration of death,” since it could make clear to us only the nature of death (sin) and
could pass judgment by punishing sin and sinners; it was, however, unable by itself to restore the
Spirit, the supernatural life of grace. How different is the New Covenant, the Covenant of the
life-giving Spirit, the giver of graces! How different the new state of interior justification of the
soul before God! We have become members of this Covenant, and for this privilege “I will bless
the Lord at all times” (Gradual). By means of this union life is given again to man, wounded and
tortured unto death by sin. Like the priest in today’s Gospel, the Old Testament passes by the
wounded man. But Christ, the New Covenant, pours oil and wine into the wounds (baptism
and the Eucharist), brings the half-dead man to an inn, the inn of the Church, and takes care of
him so that he may regain full strength and a robust life.
The parable of the good Samaritan is fulfilled in us, the children of the Church. We ourselves are
the wanderer who fell among robbers and upon whom Christ looked down full of compassion,
taking him into His Church in the sacrament of baptism. In view of this wonderful condescension
on the part of the Savior we say: “I believe in one holy Catholic Church; I believe in one
baptism.” During the Sacrifice of the Mass, Christ, the good Samaritan, appears personally in
our midst to continue His presence with us and to perfect His work of healing and restoration.
A second Moses, He implores God on our behalf, offering with His prayers His own flesh
and blood, His heart, Himself wholly to the Father as a gift of sacrifice. We are allowed to take
Him into our hands as our own gift of sacrifice, offering Him up to God through the hands of
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