ONLY GOD

oNly GoD

 

“The utterance of one who hears what God says, and knows what the Most High knows… enraptured and with eyes unveiled.” – Numbers 24:16

 

Today we celebrate the feast of St. John of the Cross, the Carmelite reformer who lived in the 16th century. He is considered, along with St. Teresa of Avila, as the founder of Discalced Carmelites. If you’ve ever read his story, you’ll probably come to the same conclusion as I have — it’s soap opera material.

In his efforts to found monasteries and reform the Carmelite order, he was imprisoned by his superiors, was given a weekly public lashing and then isolated in a jail cell barely large enough for his body. Yet in the midst of those difficult conditions, he wrote his most famous poem, “Spiritual Canticle.” He was able to escape nine months later and continued in the work of reformation.

As the rush of the Christmas season pulls us in its wave, St. John makes us realize how the simple life of detachment, of constantly seeking God in the midst of extreme difficulty and of living a life of faith in the midst of its ironies provide hidden joys and fulfilment that no Christmas gift or party can provide.

This Christmas, even as we thank the Lord for all the gifts and loved ones who surround us, let us remember that all these too will pass. Only God remains. Joy Sosoban

 

REFLECTION:

“Love consists not in feeling great things but in having great detachment and in suffering for the Beloved.” (St. John of the Cross)

 

Detach me, O Lord, from my many attachments. Let me seek You above all.

 

 

Jesus’ AuthORity in OuR lives

 

On this third week of Advent, we feel even more strongly the build-up towards the feast of Christ’s nativity. Our liturgical readings enumerate for us the noteworthy Messianic passages and prophecies from the Old Testament. And what is even nicer is that the connection between the First Reading and the Gospel is more pronounced.

In fact, the question asked of Jesus in today’s Gospel episode (“On what authority are you doing these things? Who has given you this power?” — questions which, curiously, Jesus left unanswered) is somehow already answered by the First Reading. In other words, if only the chief priests and elders did their homework of familiarizing themselves with the Old Testament prophecies, they would have known that Jesus truly possesses the authority of the promised king, without doubt.

No wonder that Jesus enigmatically evades the trap set for Him by the chief priests and elders. In fact, He even turns the tables on them! He creates a reversal of sorts, by dodging His interrogators’ question and then throwing back to them a “counter question.”

We, for our part, should just drop the debate and quite simply acknowledge Jesus’ majesty and authority in our lives. Chief priests and elders question him, prophets like Balaam and John the Baptist (as well as saints, like John of the Cross for today) instead point to Him. In the words of our Responsorial Psalm today, we therefore implore Him: “Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

 

Reflection Question:

What role does Jesus play in my life? Is He the supreme authority or is He something that I simply consult when I need to?

 

Lord Jesus, do what You want with my life but grant me the grace to obey You.

 

St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor, pray for us.