Coming to Grips with the Feast of John of the Cross and Advent
True Friar
Carmelite homily for Sunday, December 15, 2019 – Lectionary 007 (Third Sunday of Advent)
In today’s Gospel we have John the Baptist, who the early Carmelites said was a Carmelite, a member of the Order, because he’s dressed like Elijah – camel’s hair, leather belt. But what does it really mean to be a Carmelite? What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus? Because that’s what John the Baptist is asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to look for another?” And Jesus describes what he is doing. That’s what it means to be a follower. Saint Teresa of Avila writes, “Being a friar doesn’t consist in the habit – I mean wearing it – but in enjoying the state of higher perfection, which is what it means to be a true friar.” That’s what Jesus is asking of John: are you a true friar? That’s what Jesus is asking of us: are you a true friar? Higher perfection, doing the works of Jesus, living in love.
The Feast of Saint John of the Cross
Carmelite homily for Saturday, December 14, 2019 – Lectionary 693
Today we celebrate the feast of a great one – Saint John of the Cross – Carmelite, mystic, spiritual writer, Doctor of the Church. There’s so much to say. But his best known quotation may say it all. He writes, “At the evening of life you will be examined in love.” I think of all his teachings writings, everything, his poetry, his commentaries, everything can be summarized by that one line. And hopefully our lives can be summarized by that one line. Because it’s a true line: “At the evening of life you will be examined in love.” Happy Feast of Saint John of the Cross.
A Soul Surrendered
Carmelite homily for Friday, December 13, 2019 – Lectionary 185
In today’s Gospel Jesus remarks about the gripey people. That he says, “We played you a flute but you would not dance so we sang you a dirge but you would not wail. That John the Baptist came neither eating nor drinking and you said he’s crazy and so Jesus came eating and drinking and you said he’s a glutton. No matter what happens people will complain. Teresa of Avila says, ahh, put that all aside. One of her great lines is, “For a soul surrendered into God’s hands doesn’t care whether they say good or evil about it.” That could sum up today’s message of the Gospel.
Here All Are Loved
Thursday, December 12, 2019 – Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe — Carmelite homily for Lectionary 690a
Today we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe where Mary appears in Aztec and Christian symbols on a hill in Mexico City, Tepeyac, to an indigenous man, Juan Diego, and has a message of unity and brotherhood and sisterhood and love — that it is an embrace of God. That’s a wonderful message. Teresa of Avila, when she’s describing her reformed Carmels, her new foundations, says, “Here all are friends; here all are helped; here all are loved.” Even though that comes from Teresa of Avila that is exactly the message of today’s Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Yoke is Easy; Burden is Light
Carmelite homily for Wednesday, December 11, 2019 – Lectionary 183
In today’s Gospel we have words of great comfort. Jesus says, “Come to me all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. For my yoke is easy; my burden is light.” Who doesn’t want that? But between those two parts is the key where he says, “Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart.” Ahhh, I don’t know if we want that – that meekness thing, that humble thing? No. But that’s the key. As Teresa of Avila says, “May the Lord be praised who freed me from myself.” We’re trapped by our pride; we’re trapped by our appetites; we’re trapped so many times. Enslaved by these. It’s when we are freed and we learn to be meek and humble of heart, then the yoke is easy and the burden is light.
Getting Lost
Carmelite homily for Tuesday, December 10, 2019 – Lectionary 182
In today’s Gospel we have the well-known parable of the Lost Sheep. Jesus asks, which of you who have a hundred sheep, if one is lost would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go look for the one? But how do we not be the one? How do we avoid that? How do we prevent that? Teresa of Avila has a very simple answer. She writes, “For all who follow Christ, if they don’t want to get lost, must walk along the paths he trod.” It’s as easy as that.
A Really Delightful Flower
Monday, December 5, 2019 – Immaculate Conception — Carmelite homily for Lectionary 689
Carmel means “Garden of God.” Carm = Garden; El = God. And so there’s this tie with flower throughout Carmelite literature and Carmelite spirituality. That’s why Therese calls herself a “Little Flower” because she compares herself to the big flowers, the prize roses like John or Teresa. Mary, according to Titus Brandsma, her symbol is the sunflower because it follows the sun but with its head down. Today the Church celebrates this great Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – a delightful flower in the world’s and in Carmel’s garden. We’re named after Mary, after all. Saint Titus Brandsma says, “The devotion to Mary is one of the most delightful flowers in Carmel’s garden.” That’s what we celebrate today: a really delightful flower in Carmel’s garden.
Consider Carefully
Carmelite homily for Sunday, December 8, 2019 – Lectionary 004 (Second Sunday of Advent)
Edith Stein, also known as Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was a Carmelite who was executed – martyred – at Auschwitz. She says, “If you decide for Christ it could cost your life. Consider carefully what you promise.” In today’s Gospel we have John the Baptist proclaiming Good News, and baptizing for repentance, and saying, the one following me I am not worthy to even untie his sandal. He opts for Christ. He decides for Christ. And it costs him his life because that Christ-like message is so other-worldly. Focused on the other; serving the other; living in truth; living in honesty; living in integrity; living in authenticity. The world hates these actually. So if you decide for Christ it could cost you your life. Consider carefully what you promise.
For Love Alone
Carmelite homily for Saturday, December 7, 2019 – Lectionary 180
In today’s Gospel Jesus looks over the crowds and says; wow, they’re like sheep without a shepherd. So he summons the twelve apostles and sends them forth to work, saying, go to the lost sheep and proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons, and remember, without cost you have received so without cost you are to give. I think Therese understands this well. In her autobiography, A Story of a Soul, she says, “In the evening of life I shall appear before you with empty hands for I do not ask you, Lord, to count my works; I work for love alone.” I think that’s why we work, we do, we serve the Lord. Not for accolades or praise or any other form of payment – whatever those are – but for love alone.