The Hand of the Lord Has Done This December 14

Memorial of St. John of the Cross

That all may see and know,observe and understand,That the hand of the LORD has done this,the Holy One of Israel has created it. Isaiah 41

All the prophets and the law prophesied up to the time of John. And if you are willing to accept it,he is Elijah, the one who is to come. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Matthew 11

Piety

God of life and love, reveal yourself to us out in the world and within ourselves so that we may see and know what you have done in our lives. Help our eyes and ears to understand the message of your prophets – John the Baptist and his voice crying out in the desert and St. John of the Cross and his voice crying out within our spiritual wilderness. Let us learn through the suffering of these two servants, how to better reach a close relationship with you. Amen.



Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121406.shtml



To understand the importance of the Advent narrative, we need to be in touch with the historical story of Elijah from the Hebrew Bible. Today’s readings give us the opportunity to learn anew or to remember this important story.

Elijah is one of the most important figures in Old Testament history. His name translated means “Yahweh is my God.” The Jews in ancient Israel knew intimately the traditional stories of Elijah from the Old Testament. Elijah stood next to Moses in the transfiguration story.

Elijah was the successful leader in the struggle to preserve the knowledge and worship of Yahweh against the encroaching worship of Baal introduced into Israel by Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab. The Elijah cycle of narratives includes miracle stories of feeding the widow and her son, denunciations of kings, and a preparation for the prophet's role as eschatological forerunner of the “great day of the Lord.”[1]

In the Old Testament, after Elijah found his successor in Elisha, he was swept up into heaven as we read in 2 Kings 2:11 – “As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.”

The Jews believed that Elijah would return to foretell the coming of the Promised One, the Messiah. In Malachi 3:23, we learned that, “Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, Before the day of the LORD comes.”

Today, that belief is fulfilled. In today’s reading, John the Baptist is named Elijah by Jesus. Like Isaiah, John preached about all that God would provide to meet the needs and afflictions of those who had faith.

Action

Today, is not only the Thursday in the second week of Advent, but it also is the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church. The day gives us the opportunity to reflect on his life and what he taught and how this helps to enlighten our Advent experience.

After a life of sacrifice, imprisonment and torture, St. John of the Cross taught that “Only by breaking the rope of our desires could we fly up to God.”[2] In addition, he was, above all, concerned for those who suffered dryness or depression in their spiritual life and offered encouragement that God loved them and was leading them deeper into faith.



“What more do you want, o soul! And what else do you search for outside, when within yourself you possess your riches, delights, satisfaction and kingdom -- your beloved whom you desire and seek? Desire him there, adore him there. Do not go in pursuit of him outside yourself. You will only become distracted and you won't find him, or enjoy him more than by seeking him within you.” -- Saint John of the Cross



Meditate on the famous image (above) by Dali of Christ of St. John of the Cross. How can we break the “wants” that Madison Avenue assaults us with at every turn this season? Let us use the time to get closer to a spirit of the season when our needs will not be fulfilled by anything that can be picked off the shelf at Target or Wal-Mart.

Let us prepare the way of the Lord by instead focusing on the goodness and kindness provided to us by the hand of the Lord despite our sinful ways.

[1] http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1kings/1kings17.htm#foot1
[2] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=65