Saint John of the Cross Archives - Page 5 of 5

Bridegroom and Friend

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 496 | Saturday, November 16, 2019

We have a really interesting instruction about prayer in today’s Gospel where Jesus likens it to a widow who goes to a judge demanding justice and he’s unwilling. So she goes again and again and again till he finally gives in. But what if that widow went to a friend? Or what if she went to a spouse? Wouldn’t she be more apt to get what she needs or is looking for right away? That may be the instruction here. John of the Cross says, “Take God for your Bridegroom and Friend.” Wouldn’t your bridegroom give you something – right away? Wouldn’t your friend give you something – right away? Let’s not see God as judge or arbiter or arbitrary gift-giver but let us see God as Bridegroom and Friend.

If the Whole World Should Crumble

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 495 | Friday, November 15, 2019

Today we have some pretty heavy-duty end of the world stuff where Jesus says if you see these signs don’t even return to the house; and if two are in bed, one will be taken and one will be left; and if two are working, one will be taken and one will be left. Then what are we to do? Saint John of the Cross says, “If the whole world should crumble and come to an end and all things go wrong, endure all with tranquility and with peaceful equanimity.” That’s what we do! It’s all in God’s hands. Endure all with peace and tranquility.

Attached to Dignities?

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 492 | Tuesday, November 12, 2019

In today’s Gospel Jesus says, when the servants come in from a long day does the master say, ‘let me take care of you?’ No, the master says, now that you’re back, take care of me. And at the end say, you’ve done nothing but what you were expected to do. This is true, we are to be servants, but the call is to be more than servants – to be friends, to be brothers, sisters, offspring of the Lord. Saint John of the Cross tells us, “Those attached to dignities are considered by God mere slaves and not offspring.” The call is to be offspring and to join the master at the table.

Precious Neighbor

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 491 | Monday, November 11, 2019

In his Sayings of Light and Love, John of the Cross reminds us, “Your neighbor may be precious in God’s sight for reasons you do not have in mind.” In today’s Gospel Jesus says to forgive your brother; if he wrongs you seven times, forgive him seven times. Because that neighbor, your brother, yours sister, may be precious in his sight for reasons you do not have in mind. Since you do not know what motivates, you do not know the background, you do not know that person – you only know yourself and even weakly there sometimes – ‘forgive’ is the call of today’s Gospel. For, “Your neighbor may be precious in God’s sight for reasons you do not have in mind.”

To Go to God

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 671 | Dedication of Saint John Lateran | Saturday, November 9, 2019

In today’s Gospel we have the ‘Cleansing of the Temple’ where Jesus overturned the money tables, and drove out the money changers and the animal handlers – to purify the Temple. I think Jesus does the same thing to this Temple, to our hearts, and our souls. And why? John of the Cross says, “The soul must empty itself of all that is not God in order to go to God.” With that in mind, let us ask Jesus to do to this Temple what he did to that Temple on that day.

To Reach New Territory Take New Roads

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 153 – Sunday, November 3, 2019

In his Sayings of Light and Love, Saint John of the Cross instructs us that, “Travelers cannot reach new territory if they do not take new roads and abandon the old familiar ones.” Good advice! In today’s Gospel, Jesus is going to Jericho – a new road for him. But more importantly, Zacchaeus is climbing a sycamore tree. That’s a new road for him. He’s going to reach new territory: comfort, and closeness, and love of Jesus. If we want those, we need to take new roads and abandon the old familiar ones that are getting us nowhere.

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.