Wednesday, December 14, 2022

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.