Memorial of Saint John of the Cross,
priest and doctor of the Church
Biographical Information about St. John of the Cross
Readings for Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Is 41:13-20
Isaiah uses the harvest image to proclaim the victory of the Lord over those who oppose him. He once again reminds us that the Lord cares for the poor and those without hope and assures us that all that is and will be is created by God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
This song of praise and thanksgiving looks forward to the coming of the kingdom of God. It is God, says the psalmist, who rules all things for all time.
Gospel Mt 11:11-15
We met John the Baptist briefly earlier this Advent season. Now we hear Jesus proclaiming his greatness – a greatness that comes from John’s role of proclaiming the coming of the Messiah and extolling the people to repentance and acceptance of God’s rule in their lives.
Homily:
Setting this Gospel in context, John the Baptist has just written to Jesus from prison asking if he is the one “who is to come” or should we look for another. In response Jesus sent back the message by John’s disciples to tell him what they have seen of the miracles Jesus has worked; the blind see, the lame walk. Using the descriptive words of the prophets he is confirming John’s belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
That is where our Gospel passage begins – and Jesus says; among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist. We must ask ourselves what makes John so special? He is a mystic; he wears funny cloths and eats funny stuff. He cries out to the people to repent and return to right paths. It is John’s acceptance of his role as predecessor of the Lord that makes him great.
In that same mold, we as Church celebrate today another great soul in St. John of the Cross. Time does not permit me to chronicle his life and works. Let us say he is held up as one of the Doctors of the Church which means he gave us such incredible insight into our understanding of our faith that he is given that special title.
Since we are working diligently to make a straight path in our hearts for the Lord, today let us contemplate one short thought left for us by St. John of the Cross on this, his feast day;
“The Lord measures our perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of our deeds, but by the manner in which we perform them.”
As we accept the yoke of the Lord this advent season and do our very best to follow the Lord’s call to us, let’s remember these words of St. John. The manner in which we perform our deeds must be one of humility - giving of ourselves without thought of recognition or honor except from God who is the only one we seek to please. We perform our deeds our of compassion and love – not condescension or in pride. We perform our deeds for God’s glory and purpose, not our own. It is in these ways we make that path for the Lord whose Nativity we wait for with such expectation.
Pax
priest and doctor of the Church
Biographical Information about St. John of the Cross
Readings for Thursday of the 2nd Week of Advent
Commentary:
Reading 1 Is 41:13-20
Isaiah uses the harvest image to proclaim the victory of the Lord over those who oppose him. He once again reminds us that the Lord cares for the poor and those without hope and assures us that all that is and will be is created by God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab
R. The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger, and of great kindness.
This song of praise and thanksgiving looks forward to the coming of the kingdom of God. It is God, says the psalmist, who rules all things for all time.
Gospel Mt 11:11-15
We met John the Baptist briefly earlier this Advent season. Now we hear Jesus proclaiming his greatness – a greatness that comes from John’s role of proclaiming the coming of the Messiah and extolling the people to repentance and acceptance of God’s rule in their lives.
Homily:
Setting this Gospel in context, John the Baptist has just written to Jesus from prison asking if he is the one “who is to come” or should we look for another. In response Jesus sent back the message by John’s disciples to tell him what they have seen of the miracles Jesus has worked; the blind see, the lame walk. Using the descriptive words of the prophets he is confirming John’s belief that Jesus is the Messiah.
That is where our Gospel passage begins – and Jesus says; among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist. We must ask ourselves what makes John so special? He is a mystic; he wears funny cloths and eats funny stuff. He cries out to the people to repent and return to right paths. It is John’s acceptance of his role as predecessor of the Lord that makes him great.
In that same mold, we as Church celebrate today another great soul in St. John of the Cross. Time does not permit me to chronicle his life and works. Let us say he is held up as one of the Doctors of the Church which means he gave us such incredible insight into our understanding of our faith that he is given that special title.
Since we are working diligently to make a straight path in our hearts for the Lord, today let us contemplate one short thought left for us by St. John of the Cross on this, his feast day;
“The Lord measures our perfection neither by the multitude nor the magnitude of our deeds, but by the manner in which we perform them.”
As we accept the yoke of the Lord this advent season and do our very best to follow the Lord’s call to us, let’s remember these words of St. John. The manner in which we perform our deeds must be one of humility - giving of ourselves without thought of recognition or honor except from God who is the only one we seek to please. We perform our deeds our of compassion and love – not condescension or in pride. We perform our deeds for God’s glory and purpose, not our own. It is in these ways we make that path for the Lord whose Nativity we wait for with such expectation.
Pax
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