The world has looked rather odd to me since we have changed our clocks. It seems to get so dark outside and yet it is so early. We have been plunged into a period of darkness. From the midst of this darkness I personally find myself longing for the light.
But from the Prophet Malachi we heard these words of hope: “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.” Truly in the midst of darkness it is Christ for whom we now long.
This title “Sun of Justice” becomes an important title for Christ our Lord. This allegorical title shows that the period of time in which the world was waiting for the Messiah was a period of darkness. Thankfully now the sun begins to peak over the horizon and begins to slowly cast its light to the point that it will eventually illuminate the earth in its brilliance.
There is so much in this life that attempts to plunge us into a period of darkness. Sin and death exist and desire nothing more then to extinguish the Christian reality of hope. Through Christ our Lord and His trimphant Resurrection we have been lifted out of this reality and have been oriented towards this unending light.
An ancient sign of our Christian unity was to face together towards the east whenever we pray. The east becomes a sign of the Resurrection for it is from the east that the sun begins to rise. With this we must be willing to orient ourself towards the east for it is only here that we will come to encounter the light of Christ.
In his book “The Spirit of the Liturgy” Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, instructs that where it becomes impossible for us to face together towards the east at Mass that it is important that a cross be placed upon the altar. He stated of it: “The idea that the priest and the people in prayer must look at one another reciprocally was born only in the modern age and is completely foreign to Christianity. In fact, the priest and the people do not address their prayer to one another, but together they address it to the one Lord.”
In looking upon this cross may we remember that all that we do here as priest or lay faithful is directed unto the Lord. What takes place here at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not the work of man, but it is the work of God. Upon our lips it should be known “Conversi ad Dominum” “Let us turn toward the Lord; let us convert to the Lord.”
Indeed the darkness seems to prevail, but towards the Lord we now look with Christian hope. From the Lord this “Sun of Justice” will illuminate this darkness. Are we willing to place our trust here? Are we willing to turn our gaze towards this direction?
