Friday, December 14, 2018
Today, in Mercy, we celebrate the feast of St. John of the Cross, a great mystic of the 16th century, one of the 36 Doctors of the Church, and an influential Spanish writer.
John, with Teresa of Ávila, founded the Discalced Carmelites. His poetry and prose recount the journey of the soul as it grows more deeply into God.
Much of his poetic writing can surprise, perhaps even shock, with its passionate tone. But John’s love for God is so profound that he uses the symbols of deepest human intimacy to convey his passion. These are the most beautiful images he has to express his total gift of self to the Divine.
Through the darkness of profound personal suffering, John found Light by nurturing this extraordinary spiritual intimacy with God.
John is a perfect inspiration for the Advent journey as we move through darkness to the Light of Christmas.
Many of us will have favorite passages from this prolific and passionate writer. Mine is this:
“In the evening of our lives,
we will judged on love.
Learn, therefore, to love God
as God wishes to be loved.”
Music: John Michael Talbot tries to capture the mysticism of John’s writings.
Lavish Mercy 