December 14 - Homily for Today

+ John of the Cross was born in poverty in 1542, near Avila, Spain. One of his first jobs was to help care for the poor in the hospital in Medina del Campo. He became a Carmelite lay brother in 1563 at the age of 21, though he lived more strictly than the Rule required. He then studied at Salamanca, Spain and became a Carmelite priest, ordained in 1567 at age 25. He gave in to the persuasions of St. Teresa of Avila to begin the Discalced or barefoot reform within the Carmelite Order; he took the name John of the Cross. He soon master of novices; and spiritual director and confessor at St. Teresa’s convent. John’s reforms did not set well with some of his brothers, and he was ordered to return to Medina del Campo. He refused, and was imprisoned at Toledo, Spain, but escaped after nine months. He then became Vicar-General of Andalusia, Spain. His reforms subsequently revitalized the Order.

John was a great contemplative and spiritual writer, among his famous works being The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night of the Soul, The Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love. After Teresa’s death in 1582, John found himself embroiled in order politics again and was sent to live in a remote place in southern Spain to live as a simple friar – which was agreeable to him. He died on December 14, 1591, was canonized in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926 by Pope Pius XI. He is patron of the contemplative life and mystical theology and mystics.

John of the Cross understood fully the message of the readings of today’s Mass in his honor: St. Paul told the Corinthians of the most important wisdom there is: it is the wisdom of the cross, the wisdom of weakness, the wisdom of poverty, the wisdom of littleness – this is the hidden, mysterious wisdom that is understood by little ones – and would not have ended in crucifying the Lord of glory;

and in the gospel passage, Jesus insists now that, since he did, in fact, endure the cross for us and our salvation, so must we embrace our own: as we calculate what is necessary to gain eternal life; if embracing Christ and his Cross is not paramount, then we will not get to where we want to go!

Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs.