John of the Cross Archives - Page 5 of 5

On the Greatness of Humility

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 481 – Wednesday, October 30, 2019

In his Sayings of Light of Love, Saint John of the Cross writes, “The Lord does not look on our greatness but only on the greatness of our humility.” In today’s Gospel all these people are calling after Jesus and saying, “Lord, Lord!” and “Who will be saved?” And he says, “Try to come in through the narrow gate.” The narrow gate is a small gate; maybe a humble gate. The smallest gate. It is humbleness that he calls us to. The Lord does not look on our greatness but only on the greatness of our humility.

Deeper Repentance

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 478 – Saturday, October 26, 2019

There’s a thought-provoking line from Saint John of the Cross. He writes, “Repent of your sins, but do not regret them, for your sins can teach you who you are.” In today’s Gospel, Jesus used the word “repent” a lot. I think that maybe he’s calling us to the deeper meaning of that word. Repent. Rethink. Pensar. To think, like, “pensive.” That’s the call of the Gospel. To think out what we’re doing; how we’re doing it; why we’re doing it. To think deeply. “Repent of your sins, but do not regret them, for your sins can teach you who you are.” Now that’s deep repentance.

Mine are the Heavens

Carmelite Homily for Lectionary 474 — Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Wise or inspiring things that John of the Cross said were compiled into a little volume called Sayings of Light and Love. They are profound. This is Number 27. “Mine are the heavens and mine are the earth. Mine are the nations and the just are mine. Mine are the sinners. The angels are mine. And the Mother of God and all things are mine. And God himself is mine and for me because Christ is for me and all for me. What do you ask, then, or seek my soul? Yours is all of this and all is for you. Do not engage yourself in something less or pay heed to the crumbs that fall from your Father’s table. Go forth! and exult in your glory! Hide yourself in it and rejoice. And you will obtain the supplications of your heart.” I think that works well with today’s Gospel because Jesus has this reversal that when the master comes he will wait on the servants and feed the servants. Why? Because the servants are valuable. I am valuable; you are valuable; to God.

No Greatness Without Love

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 470 – Thursday, October 17, 2019

It seems that all the Carmelite writers have the same quotation – maybe they’re quoting each other, but it’s a good one. “The Lord will never look at the greatness of your deeds; only upon the love with which they are done.” In today’s Gospel we have Jesus condemning the people because they’re defending the faith, and going after him and each other, and building great monuments. They’re doing all sorts of things that are laudatory, but no love in them. I think this quotation from John of the Cross, from Teresa of Avila, from Therese of Lisieux, from ‘you name that Carmelite author’, it’s there: “The Lord will never look at the greatness of your deeds; only upon the love with which they are done.” Whatever you do today, no matter how great, do it with love.

Only in Silence

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 466 – Saturday, October 12, 2019

In today’s Gospel Jesus has the line, “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” How can you hear the word of God, though? Saint John of the Cross says, “God spoke only one Word, his Son, in eternal silence; and only in silence can that word be heard.” So practice a little – just a little, a minute, two minutes – of silence. Turn off the phone, turn off the TV, turn off the iPad, turn off the noise; just for two minutes. See what you hear!

Greatest Commandment

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 461 – Monday, October 7, 2019

In today’s Gospel passage we have the well-known Greatest Commandment — love the Lord your God with all your strength, soul, mind and body, and love your neighbor as yourself. Saint John of the Cross puts these two halves together brilliantly. He says, “As love of neighbor grows so does love of God; and as love of God grows so does love of neighbor.” It’s a spiral; that the two halves of this Greatest Commandment work together to bring us to ever greater and greater heights of love.