THE PLACE OF THE MASS IN THE DIVINE PLAN

continued

7--What is meant by these expressions: "Through Him, with Him, and in Him?"

Let us make another comparison.

Here is an example. A rich father is about to give a cherished daughter in marriage. This father, because of his love for his daughter, has had a lovely cottage built for her in an enchanting corner of the country. He has completely furnished the cottage; and has even engaged servants, domestic help, and so on.

Here again, all these preparations--the result of the father's love for his daughter--may have been made far in advance of the wedding date. But they have been made solely in view of the marriage on which all these provisions hinge, toward which they converge.

Although the father is doing this purely because of his love for his daughter, the son-in-law will also share in the benefits. Why? Because of the latter's union with the cherished daughter. Except for this union, the father certainly would not have done anything for the young man; nor spent a penny on him.

With this example as a guide, it is easy to understand the meaning of expressions such as, "through Him, with Him, and unto Him, we are made pleasing to God the Father."

To the degree that the marriage is a success and the young man pleases the girl, the father will feel affection for him and be favorably disposed toward him. The more the father-in-law sees his son-in-law trying to make his daughter happy, the more benefits will he shower upon him. As for the son-in-law, if he wants his father-in-law to do him a favor, or pardon him for some youthful prank, he will ask his young bride to intercede for him.

The practical application is not far to seek.

In the same degree in which we are united to our Lord and working for His interests, the Heavenly Father loves us and pardons our sins "through Him"--through His intercession--and showers us with His blessings; even to the sharing in His divine life, and Heaven, the heritage of His divine Son.

If God's love for Christ obtains for us the inestimable gift of life; Jesus' love for us obliges, as it were, His Father to extend His mercy and paternal solicitude toward us. It is this ardent affection of Christ for us--as we shall see later on--that saves us from the eternal loss of Heaven and from death-dealing sin.

[From 'Your Mass and Your Life', to be continued]