Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Today is the feast day of St. John of the cross, a holy man who worked closely with Teresa of Avila, was deeply contemplative and at one point escaped from prison by prying the doors from his cell. St. John of the Cross is the patron saint of contemplatives and mystics. I believe that many similarities can be drawn between St. John of the Cross and St. John the Baptist, most pointedly in their self-discipline and physical acts of penitence. Both me n were solely focused on proclaiming the coming of Christ. Both men also harken back even further to another man of penitence and proclamation - the prophet Elijah.
In the Old Testament the prophet Elijah was a prophet who spoke of the one who was to come, who would be sent by God on behalf of his people. We are told that Elijah was sent to restore the covenant relationship and create a new social order by repairing family relationships and quarrels. We hear in today's gospel that John the Baptist was sent to proclaim the coming of Christ at a similar time - at a time where there is fighting and discord and a new social order must be established. And God is the one who must establish this. John the Baptist announces the coming of Christ, who will establish a new social order.
As we hear in our first reading from Isaiah, this new social order and the changes that will emerge are all meant to help us understand and observe that the Hand of God is at work in all things. It is God's goodness that brings about change and conversion.
With these three men as a model, let us reflect on today's readings and ponder what God is asking of us. We have ears, what is God hoping that we hear? What message must be driven into our brains right now? As we grow closer and closer to Christmas, we are in a season of frivolity and excess, but let us remember the example of these three men . They show us the value of self-discipline, of penance and of giving up everything to follow God. These three men, all very mystical, holy, contemplative men also show us the power and importance of prayer.
This Thursday in advent, let us pray through the intercession of St. John of the Cross that we may grow in our contemplative, spiritual nature and that we may remain focused and committed to the coming of Christ. At a time when our world needs a new social order, we pray that God will use us to restore a social order of justice, peace, integrity and respect.
Amen.
- Amanda Grimm