Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the
Church
Lectionary: 185
Lectionary: 185
 |
| St.John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church. |
Thus says the LORD, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
the Holy One of Israel:
I, the LORD, your God,
teach you what is for your good,
and lead you on the way you should go.
If you would hearken to my commandments,
your prosperity would be like a river,
and your vindication like the waves of the sea;
Your descendants would be like the sand,
and those born of your stock like its grains,
Their name never cut off
or blotted out from my presence.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 And 6
R. (see John 8:12) Those who follow you, Lord, will have
the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Those who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life.
Gospel Mt 11:16-19
Jesus said to the crowds:
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."
"To what shall I compare this generation?
It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another,
'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance,
we sang a dirge but you did not mourn.'
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they said,
'He is possessed by a demon.'
The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said,
'Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard,
a friend of tax collectors and sinners.'
But wisdom is vindicated by her works."
www.usccb.org
Meditation:The Lord will lead you in the way you
should go
Why did the message of John the Baptist and the message of Jesus meet with deaf ears and resistance? It was out of jealously and spiritual blindness that the scribes and Pharisees attributed John the Baptist's austerities to the devil and they attributed Jesus' table fellowship with sinners as evidence that he must be a false messiah. They succeeded in frustrating God's plan for their lives because they had closed their hearts to the message of John the Baptist and now to Jesus' message. What can make us spiritually dull and slow to hear God's voice? Like the generation of Jesus' time, our age is marked by indifference and contempt, especially in regards to the things of heaven. Indifference dulls our ears to God's voice and to the good news of the gospel. Only the humble of heart can find joy and favor in God's sight. Is you life in tune with Jesus's message of hope and salvation? And do you know the joy of obedience to God word?
"Lord Jesus, open my ears to hear the good news of your kingdom and set my heart free to love and serve you joyfully. May nothing keep me from following you wholeheartedly."
www.dailyscripture.net
 A Lesson about the Heart |
|
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest
and doctor of the Church
|
|
Matthew 11: 16-19
Jesus said to the
crowds: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit
in the marketplaces and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you,
but you did not dance, we sang a dirge, but you did not mourn.’ For John came
neither eating nor drinking, and they said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The
Son of Man came eating and drinking and they said. ‘Look he is a glutton and
a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated
by her works.”
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for this new day
and all the graces you will bless me with. I believe in you and your love for
me. I wish to show my love for you by staying focused on what is most
important during this time of prayer: you and your most holy will.
Petition: Lord Jesus, help me to see your actions and
the actions of others with the eyes of faith.
1. Eyes of Faith: God comes to us in many and various ways
each day. Sometimes he reveals his goodness to us when he allows us to
succeed in life. Other times he permits trials in our life so that we can cling
more surely to him. The proper response to God’s constant action in our lives
will only be possible if we are able to discern that it is indeed God who is
acting –– that it is God who is “playing the flute for us” or “singing a
dirge for us”. We need the eyes of faith. A habitual interior attitude of
faith and trust in God allows us to live with great peace and purpose.
2. Worldly Standards of Judgment: Jesus complains when
the crowds use worldly standards to size him up. They are caught up in their
opinions and all too easily pass judgment on him. They accuse Jesus of being
possessed by a demon, a drunkard, and so on. How easy is it for me to judge
others by accepting or rejecting them for mere external things? What are my
internal attitudes towards others? Lord, help me to be detached from all
worldly standards of judging and to embrace each soul, loving them as you do,
and to leave the judging to you.
3. But Wisdom is Vindicated by Her Works: Despite the rejection
and harsh judgments of many, Jesus went about doing good. This is what he
meant by saying that “wisdom is vindicated by her works”. In the same vein he
also taught that you can recognize a tree by its fruits. Knowing how easy it
is to misjudge others, I cannot permit myself to worry about what others may
say or think of me. Rather I need to be busy like Jesus, going about doing
good. Good actions speak for themselves, even if it may take a while for
others to perceive or appreciate them. When we trustfully follow along to the
flute or the dirge Our Lord is playing for us, and we do so for his sake and
for the sake of spreading his message, we can rest in the certainty that God
is blessing us and will bring his good works to fruition through us.
Conversation with Christ: Thank you, Jesus, for
this opportunity to spend time with you in prayer. Let it be my motivation
for the day and bring me to live a greater spirit of faith in you and the
mission you have entrusted me. How much it would help me to consider my
actions, the actions of others and your actions under the light of your love
and good will. I do believe that you permit everything that happens in my
life for the sake of bringing about a greater good, but Lord, increase my
faith.
Resolution: I will strive to interpret the actions of
others in a positive way, excusing any defects I may perceive.
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14
Advent Weekday
MATTHEW 11:16-19
(Isaiah 48:17-19; Psalm 1)
KEY VERSE: "But wisdom is vindicated by her works" (v 19).
READING: Jesus was exasperated with those who opposed his work and the work of John the Baptist. Jesus compared these faithless ones to spoiled children who no one could hope to satisfy. He recited a little verse that appeared in Aesop's fables (6th century before Christ) "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn" (Matt 11:16-17). At one and the same time, those who opposed John did so because of his austere, ascetic life-style, and rejected Jesus because of his association with sinners and outcasts. John was thought to be "demon-possessed" and Jesus was said to be a "glutton and a drunkard" (v 19). Divine wisdom would vindicate the works of Jesus the Messiah and his herald John.
REFLECTING: Do I make rash judgments about those in my parish with whom I disagree?
PRAYING: Lord Jesus, give me the wisdom to understand the other person's point of view
Memorial of John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church
John was born in poverty. He cared for the poor in the hospital in Medina. He became a Lay Carmelite brother at age 21, though he lived stricter than their Rule. John studied at Salamanca, and was ordained a Carmelite priest at age 25. Persuaded by Saint Teresa of Avila to begin the Discalced, or barefoot reform, within the Carmelite Order, he took the name John of the Cross. His reforms did not set well with some of his brothers, and he was imprisoned, escaping after nine months. Eventually, John's reforms revitalized the Order. John of the Cross was a great contemplative and spiritual writer. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI on 24 August 1926. He is also known as Doctor of Mystical Theology.
www.daily-word-of-life.com
Those
who follow you, Lord, will have the light of life
How
contrary can people be!The reading from Matthew today give us much food for thought. Those who criticised John the Baptist, when he was teaching as a messenger preparing for the coming of Jesus, attempted to write him off as possessed. They were critical of him as neither eating nor drinking. When Jesus arrived on the scene, they criticised Jesus for the opposite reasons.
In truth, they didn’t wish to hear the message of either of them. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy and demanded to be judged on his actions. We know from Isaiah’s reading today that in earlier times God was unable to get the people to hear or heed what he was teaching. They lost favour with God. Lord, give us the grace to heed your teaching.
www.churchresource.info
December 14
St. John of the Cross
(1541-1591)
St. John of the Cross
(1541-1591)
John is a saint because his life was a
heroic effort to live up to his name: “of the Cross.” The folly of the cross
came to full realization in time. “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny
himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34b) is the story of John’s
life. The Paschal Mystery—through death to life—strongly marks John as
reformer, mystic-poet and theologian-priest.
Ordained a
Carmelite priest at 25 (1567), John met Teresa of Jesus (Avila--October 15) and
like her vowed himself to the primitive Rule of the Carmelites. As partner with
Teresa and in his own right, John engaged in the work of reform, and came to
experience the price of reform: increasing opposition, misunderstanding,
persecution, imprisonment. He came to know the cross acutely—to experience the
dying of Jesus—as he sat month after month in his dark, damp, narrow cell with
only his God!
Yet, the
paradox! In this dying of imprisonment John came to life, uttering poetry. In
the darkness of the dungeon, John’s spirit came into the Light. There are many
mystics, many poets; John is unique as mystic-poet, expressing in his
prison-cross the ecstasy of mystical union with God in the Spiritual Canticle.
But as agony
leads to ecstasy, so John had his Ascent to Mt.
Carmel, as he named it in his prose masterpiece. As man-Christian-Carmelite,
he experienced in himself this purifying ascent; as spiritual director, he
sensed it in others; as psychologist-theologian, he described and analyzed it
in his prose writings. His prose works are outstanding in underscoring the cost
of discipleship, the path of union with God: rigorous discipline, abandonment,
purification. Uniquely and strongly John underlines the gospel paradox: The
cross leads to resurrection, agony to ecstasy, darkness to light, abandonment
to possession, denial to self to union with God. If you want to save your life,
you must lose it. John is truly “of the Cross.” He died at 49—a life short, but
full.
Comment:
John in his life and writings has a crucial word for us today. We tend to be rich, soft, comfortable. We shrink even from words like self-denial, mortification, purification, asceticism, discipline. We run from the cross. John’s message—like the gospel—is loud and clear: Don’t—if you really want to live!
John in his life and writings has a crucial word for us today. We tend to be rich, soft, comfortable. We shrink even from words like self-denial, mortification, purification, asceticism, discipline. We run from the cross. John’s message—like the gospel—is loud and clear: Don’t—if you really want to live!
Quote:
Thomas Merton said of John: "Just as we can never separate asceticism from mysticism, so in St. John of the Cross we find darkness and light, suffering and joy, sacrifice and love united together so closely that they seem at times to be identified."
Thomas Merton said of John: "Just as we can never separate asceticism from mysticism, so in St. John of the Cross we find darkness and light, suffering and joy, sacrifice and love united together so closely that they seem at times to be identified."
In John's words:
"Never was fount so clear,
undimmed and bright;
From it alone, I know proceeds all light
although 'tis night."
"Never was fount so clear,
undimmed and bright;
From it alone, I know proceeds all light
although 'tis night."
www.americancatholic.org
LECTIO: MATTHEW
11,16-19
Lectio:
Friday,
December 14, 2012
2nd Week of Advent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
too often we are deaf to your voice
and to the presence of your Son
among us, his people.
Inspire us by your prophets and your Spirit
that now is the right moment to change
and to commit ourselves
to the kind of life and to the justice
demanded by the kingdom.
Help us to make people see
that your Son is alive among us
and that he is our Lord for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:
We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance;
we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners.
'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed."
The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners."
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
3) Reflection
• The leaders, the wise, are not always pleased when someone criticizes or challenges them. That happened in the time of Jesus and happens today also, both in society and in the Church. John the Baptist, saw, criticized, and was not accepted. They said: “He is possessed by the devil!” Jesus, saw, criticized and was not accepted. They said: “He has lost his head!”, “Crazy!” (Mk 3, 21). “He is possessed by the devil!” (Mk 3, 22), “He is a Samaritan!” (Jn 8, 48), “He is not from God!” (Jn 9, 16). The same thing happens today. There are some persons who hold on to what has always been taught and they do not accept another way of explaining or of living faith. Then they invent reasons and pretexts so as not to adhere: “It is Marxism!”, “It is against God’s Law!”, “It is disobedience to tradition and to the teaching of the Church” and they complain for the lack of coherence of the people. They always invent some pretext so as not to accept the message of God which Jesus announced. In fact, it is relatively easy to find arguments and pretexts to refute those who think in a way different from ours.
• Jesus reacts and renders public their incoherence. They considered themselves wise, but they were like children who wish to amuse the people on the square and they rebel when people do not move according to the music that they play. Or those who consider themselves wise without really having anything truly wise. They only accepted those who had the same ideas as they had. And thus, they themselves, because of their incoherent attitude, condemned themselves.
4) Personal questions
• Up to what point am I coherent with my faith?
• Do I have a critical conscience regarding the social and ecclesiastical system which, some times, invents reasons and pretexts to legitimize the situation and to prevent any change?
5) Concluding Prayer
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the Lord
and meditates on his law day and night. (Ps 1)
Lord our God,
too often we are deaf to your voice
and to the presence of your Son
among us, his people.
Inspire us by your prophets and your Spirit
that now is the right moment to change
and to commit ourselves
to the kind of life and to the justice
demanded by the kingdom.
Help us to make people see
that your Son is alive among us
and that he is our Lord for ever.
2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11, 16-19
'What comparison can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:
We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn't dance;
we sang dirges, and you wouldn't be mourners.
'For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, "He is possessed."
The Son of man came, eating and drinking, and they say, "Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners."
Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.'
3) Reflection
• The leaders, the wise, are not always pleased when someone criticizes or challenges them. That happened in the time of Jesus and happens today also, both in society and in the Church. John the Baptist, saw, criticized, and was not accepted. They said: “He is possessed by the devil!” Jesus, saw, criticized and was not accepted. They said: “He has lost his head!”, “Crazy!” (Mk 3, 21). “He is possessed by the devil!” (Mk 3, 22), “He is a Samaritan!” (Jn 8, 48), “He is not from God!” (Jn 9, 16). The same thing happens today. There are some persons who hold on to what has always been taught and they do not accept another way of explaining or of living faith. Then they invent reasons and pretexts so as not to adhere: “It is Marxism!”, “It is against God’s Law!”, “It is disobedience to tradition and to the teaching of the Church” and they complain for the lack of coherence of the people. They always invent some pretext so as not to accept the message of God which Jesus announced. In fact, it is relatively easy to find arguments and pretexts to refute those who think in a way different from ours.
• Jesus reacts and renders public their incoherence. They considered themselves wise, but they were like children who wish to amuse the people on the square and they rebel when people do not move according to the music that they play. Or those who consider themselves wise without really having anything truly wise. They only accepted those who had the same ideas as they had. And thus, they themselves, because of their incoherent attitude, condemned themselves.
4) Personal questions
• Up to what point am I coherent with my faith?
• Do I have a critical conscience regarding the social and ecclesiastical system which, some times, invents reasons and pretexts to legitimize the situation and to prevent any change?
5) Concluding Prayer
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the Lord
and meditates on his law day and night. (Ps 1)
www.ocarm.org
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