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The Light of the World
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Mass
Today the liturgy again compares the Old Covenant with the New; in the former we see life
without Christ; in the latter, life in Him and with Him. In the Old Testament the law of sin and
death prevails; in the New Testament the word of life holds sway. This comparison admonishes
us to acknowledge our privilege of having been united with Christ in baptism and of having
become one with Him, the living vine. “To Abraham were the promises made and to his seed,”
St. Paul tells us in the Epistle. This blessed seed and bringer of salvation, however, is not Moses
(the Old Covenant); for the Mosaic law neither redeems from sin nor does it restore life. The
promises of life are fulfilled by Christ alone and are given only “to them that believe” (Epistle).
Redemption from sin is given to us in Christ alone and through faith in Him. We therefore have
to go to Him, devoting ourselves entirely to faith in Christ and thanking Him with our whole
heart for having been called to Him in baptism and the Holy Eucharist.
We are Christians, the Lord’s covenant (Introit). He has freed us from the leprosy of Original
Sin and planted in our souls the seeds of supernatural life and eternal salvation. Being
without gratitude for the grace of healing (Gospel), however, we gave way to the man of
sin and the passions within us, thus becoming faithless to our holy covenant with Christ
through our faults. During today’s Mass, therefore, we realize our weakness and sinfulness
and with remorse for our unfaithfulness we implore the Lord in the Introit: “Have regard,
O Lord, to Thy covenant, and forsake not to the end the souls of Thy poor; arise, O Lord,
and judge Thy cause, and forget not the voices of them that seek Thee.” “Lord, have mercy
on us; Christ, have mercy on us; Lord, have mercy on us.” “Grant unto us an increase of
faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain what Thou dost promise, make us love that
which Thou dost command” (Collect). These promises will be given to us by our faith in
Jesus Christ (Epistle). “Have regard, O Lord, to Thy covenant. . . . Thou hast been our refuge
from generation to generation” (Gradual). For two thousand years He has ever renewed His
Church interiorly and exteriorly; He has fortified her anew; He has guided and protected
her, sanctified and saved her.
What the Gospel relates becomes true in us at the time when we received baptism; during the
celebration of Mass it becomes again a blessed reality and a Real Presence. Now, at this hour,
the Savior is again going “into a certain town,” into His Church, into our house of worship.
We are lepers covered with the leprosy of sin and are going to meet Him. “Jesus, Master,” we
cry out, “have mercy on us” (Gospel). He sees us and refers us to the priest, who is the mediator
between the altar (Christ) and the sacrificing community. Through the hands of the
priest Christ offers Himself up, pouring His graces, redemption, and life from the heights of
the altar down into the hearts of the sacrificing community. We participate in these graces to
the same degree that we become one sacrifice with the Savior, who offers Himself up to the
Father by renewing His death on the cross. How few there are, however, out of the community
who return after their baptism, rendering their service of gratitude in the Mass by renewing
the graces and the true spirit of baptism, by renouncing sin, Satan, and the world! How few
there are who thus show true gratitude for the grace of baptism! “Were not ten made clean?
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