Let my soul live as if separated from my body.
St. John was a poet of the first degree, indeed the Patron of Spanish Poets, and he wrote many marvelous texts that have both puzzled and astounded the men and women who have studied them through the centuries. The depth of apprehension of the love of God and his mystery is probably very difficult for most of us to understand and comprehend as we have not known the difficulty and experiences that engendered such insight in the life of John. Yet his poetry and writings afford us a unique and compelling entry point to the mystical life. The degree to which we are able to avail of this opportunity will largely depend upon, of course, the grace of the Holy Spirit, but also our own willingness to enter into our own Calvary experience – coming to know personally that experience of suffering that unites us with Jesus in His passion and death.
We have to be willing to go anywhere and everywhere the Spirit leads us. This is part of the mystery of embracing a vocation to follow God’s will; it is the only path to union with Him.
The challenge we face in our world today is how to put aside the materialism and consumerism that command our every attention and replace it with a concern for the spiritual life that will eventually become everything to us. This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus today. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you willing to leave behind the cares of the world and focus your life upon the promises of the Spirit?
Holy Spirit, help me to overcome the cares of the world in my heart and mind so that I can better focus upon the truths of the Spirit that will endure forever.
ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS
Today is the Feast day of St. John of the Cross. He is a Carmelite reformer of the 16th century who tried to simplify the life of the Carmelite Order that had become caught up in an aristocratic mentality. The life of the monks resembled more the life of aristocracy rather than being a simple and powerful witness to the Gospel through a radical expression of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.
Today is the Feast day of St. John of the Cross. He is a Carmelite reformer of the 16th century who tried to simplify the life of the Carmelite Order that had become caught up in an aristocratic mentality. The life of the monks resembled more the life of aristocracy rather than being a simple and powerful witness to the Gospel through a radical expression of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.
St. John was a poet of the first degree, indeed the Patron of Spanish Poets, and he wrote many marvelous texts that have both puzzled and astounded the men and women who have studied them through the centuries. The depth of apprehension of the love of God and his mystery is probably very difficult for most of us to understand and comprehend as we have not known the difficulty and experiences that engendered such insight in the life of John. Yet his poetry and writings afford us a unique and compelling entry point to the mystical life. The degree to which we are able to avail of this opportunity will largely depend upon, of course, the grace of the Holy Spirit, but also our own willingness to enter into our own Calvary experience – coming to know personally that experience of suffering that unites us with Jesus in His passion and death.
We have to be willing to go anywhere and everywhere the Spirit leads us. This is part of the mystery of embracing a vocation to follow God’s will; it is the only path to union with Him.
The challenge we face in our world today is how to put aside the materialism and consumerism that command our every attention and replace it with a concern for the spiritual life that will eventually become everything to us. This is what it means to be a disciple of Jesus today. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTION: Are you willing to leave behind the cares of the world and focus your life upon the promises of the Spirit?
Holy Spirit, help me to overcome the cares of the world in my heart and mind so that I can better focus upon the truths of the Spirit that will endure forever.
Entries:12/6/12-6:46AM
