Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and Doctor of the Church
(Isaiah 45:6c-8.18.21c-25; Luke 7:18b-23)
Today the Church celebrates St. John of the Cross as it
moves toward Christmas. John was a
sixteenth century mystic and theologian.
He is famous for describing the “dark night of the soul.” This experience of purification brings a soul
in union with God through successive purification. In the end everything about the contemplative
– desires, abilities, works, and feelings -- conforms to God’s will.
Although Jesus habitually went off to pray, he was not known
for his contemplation. John the Baptist
evidently thought that he would be a fiery mystic who would blast people out of
complacency. Jesus had a better way of
showing holiness. He healed and preached
more and better than anyone before. These
works should have been enough for one to recognize him as the Messiah.
Today many Christians seem to think that one can arrive at
holiness without having suffered. Both
John of the Cross and Jesus would deny that idea. The human ego is so great that it wants to
dominate everything. Only God can do
that. By suffering we can tame the ego
so that it too conforms to God’s will.
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