Tuesday, December 19 : Saint Maximus of Turin

When the whole universe was overshadowed by the darkness of the devil and sin’s gloom dominated the world, a new sun, Christ our Lord, willed in these last days, when night was nearly over, to shine forth the first rays of a new day. But before this light appeared, that is to say before the «sun of righteousness» (Mal 3,20) arose, God had already announced it like a first gleam through his prophets: «I sent my prophets before the light» (Jr 7,25 Vg.). Later, Christ himself put forth his rays – that is to say, his apostles – to make his light shine out and fill the universe with his truth so that none might be lost in darkness… But so as to finish doing our necessary tasks before the sun of this world arises, we mortals anticipate the light with our lamps. Likewise Christ the sun also has his lamp to precede his coming, as the prophet says: «I have prepared a lamp for my Anointed» (Ps 132[131],17). And Our Lord shows us what this lamp is when he says with regard to John the Baptist: «He was a burning, shining light.» And John himself said, as though he were the feeble glimmering of a lantern being carried on ahead: «But one is coming who is stronger than I and I am not worthy to undo his sandal strap. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in fire» (Lk 3,16). And at the same time, knowing that his light was to be eclipsed by the sun’s rays, he prophesied: «He must increase; I must decrease» (Jn 3,30). Indeed, just as the glow of a lantern fades away at the coming of the sun, so the baptism of repentance preached by John faded before the coming of the grace of Christ.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team