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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.” 

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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.  

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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.