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.