1. We take the sunrise for granted. Rarely does it occur to us to thank God for it. But suppose the sun failed to rise tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Suppose, as in the beginning of all things, that "there was darkness over the whole earth."
The daily Mass may be compared in many ways to the daily sunrise. This divine Sacrifice floods the world with light and inflames it with love. In it we have the same Christ Who was lifted up on the Cross on Calvary. He Himself foretold that when He would be thus raised He would "draw all things to Himself." Just as the sun gives warmth, so does the Heart of Christ, offering Itself on Calvary and the Mass, attract the hearts of men to fill their coldness with the fire of divine love. just as the sun scatters its rays everywhere and disperses the darkness, so does Christ, "the light of the world," chase away the clouds of sorrow and fill with His consolations the souls that permit themselves to be drawn to Him on this altar of sacrifice.
We do not appreciate the sunshine, and it is certain that we never can set on the Mass the esteem that it deserves. "If there is anything in human life absolutely divine," writes Pope Urban VIII, "anything that the citizens of heaven themselves might envy us, that certainly is the holy Sacrifice of the Mass." "Tremunt Potestates" the very angels tremble here in sight of such mystery.
In a small country town in Ireland a priest was walking down the street to the church for Mass. The hour was early and the morning was intensely cold sleet and rain and a bitter east wind. As he stumbled along in the darkness. he encountered a little old woman, with a shawl on her head, clinging to the railings of a house, trying to steady herself against the gale and recover her breath. Where was she going? To Mass, of course. "What else have we, Father? What use is anything if we haven't Him?" It was darkness all around, but that poor woman knew where to find the sunrise, knew where warmth and light awaited her.
As Catholics we know and believe that Mass and Calvary are one and the same Sacrifice, the only difference being in the manner of offering. If our faith were living, there is not a Catholic but would seize upon every opportunity to assist at this Sacrifice whenever possible. Obligation or no obligation, if you miss Mass, on weekday or on Sunday, you cut yourself off from the divinest thing on earth. Christ in the Mass continues to plead, as He pleaded on Calvary: "Father, forgive them." In order to draw down abundant graces on the world He continues to offer His infinite merits on our behalf. Jesus Christ is not actually being crucified, but in the Mass, a few hundred yards possibly from your door, He is present as Victim, offering Himself by the hands of His priest in an unbloody manner. And you, where arc you? Is it conceivable that a Catholic, if he realized this awful truth, would lie on comfortably in bed?
Lord, increase my faith. Father, enable me to realize a little better that when I come to Mass I am not coming merely to visit You, merely to say my prayers, but coming in spirit with Mary to Calvary to offer You the same identical sacrifice offered by Your divine Son on Good Friday. Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.