Feast of St John of the Cross OCARM, Priest and Doctor of the Church.

“The endurance of darkness is the preparation for great light.”  (St John of the Cross, Mystic and Doctor of the Church).

"At that time, John summoned two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord to ask,

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

"When the men came to the Lord, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’”

"At that time Jesus cured many of their diseases, sufferings, and evil spirits; he also granted sight to many who were blind.

"And Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.

"And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.” (Luke 7: 18 - 23).

Wednesday 14th December 2022 of the 3rd Week of Advent is the feast of St John of the Cross. (1542 - 1591). Spanish. Priest, Mystic and Doctor of the Church. Called Doctor of Mystical theology because of the depth of his understanding and writings on mysticism. Author of the classic: "The Dark Night of a Soul."

In our key Scripture for today, we see St John the Baptist whom Jesus praised as the greatest prophet seemed to have developed doubts about the identity and mission of Jesus.
Jesus' answer to the disciples of John can be summarized thus: Read the Signs. What am I doing? What am I saying? The Signs shall point you to the truth.

Even though John the Baptist is the greatest prophet ever, even though his credentials are impeccable, John did not possess the fullness of Revelation. Only Jesus the Son of God possesses the fullness of Revelation.

Our saint of today, St John of the Cross suffered much terrible and inhumane persecution and torture from his own confreres, fellow Carmelites. If John of the Cross had asked Jesus: Lord, why is this happening? Jesus would have answered St John of the Cross : "Read the Signs. What am I doing? What am I saying?"  The Signs shall lead to the truth.

St John of the Cross, a Mystic and Doctor of the Church did not possess the fullness of Revelation. Only Jesus Christ possess the fullness of the truth. It is His gracious will to communicate this fullness of the truth to His Church.

In departing this earth, Jesus instructed the Twelve:
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18 - 20).

How is the Church to exercise this ministry? "Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.” (Luke 10: 16).

How do you interpret the signs of the times whether in your life or in the community today? Read the signs. The Church combines the three-legged tool of: Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and Sacred Magisterium to discern God’s will and the fullness of Revelation.  The Signs point to the Alpha and Omega. Jesus Christ promises this. He cannot lie.

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com