ATTACHMENT TO GOD, OUR CREATOR - 12/14/22 (Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church)

Luke 7:22

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.”  

For the full readings, click here: 

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121422.cfm

Blessed Memorial of Saint John of the Cross! St. John the Baptist could simply tell his disciples that Jesus was the Messiah. In fact, he already did this during the baptism of our Lord when He was proclaimed by St. John as the Lamb of God. So, why did St. John tell his disciples to come to Jesus and ask Him such questions? One reason is because of the attachment of the disciples of St. John to himself. Some were not yet ready to follow our Lord Jesus because they became fixed on the idea that they would only have St. John as their leader. Our Lord Jesus performed the miracles out of love for His people, and He also used this as opportunity to manifest His glory to them. The miracles of Jesus and mercy for the least proved that He's the One who's promised to come according to the prophecies. Because He is our God, we should be attached to Him alone and to give our whole selves to Him completely. 

Today, we commemorate St. John of the Cross. He is one of the greatest mystical theologians of the Catholic Church. In his sufferings, he was purified by God, and he learned how to be dependent on God alone. Below this reflection, there is a link about his life and another link which gives summaries on the teachings of St. John of the Cross on how we can be more united to God. Because God is our Creator, we should prioritize and love Him above all other creations. This doesn't mean that we should automatically neglect everything that is not God. This simply means that we will make God the center of our lives. One reason why it seems difficult for us to walk with Jesus is our attachment to people or our expectations in life. We became easily influenced by our family and friends, even to the point of commiting sins and staying farther from God. When things do not go according to our plans, instead of trusting that God will bring greater good, we may easily be discouraged. Let's learn to let go of things that are obstacles in our relationship with God. May we spend more time in our prayer for us to deepen our union with Him. By being attached to Jesus, we can truly live the gospel. Our eyes will see the presence of God more, we will be able to continue walking in the path of Christ, and our hearts will be cleansed from impurities. We can only find true interior peace from God. By imitating the example of self-denial and detachment of St. John of the Cross, we will have the hope of contemplating the glory of God for eternity. 

Amen +

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic

Saint John of the Cross:

https://mycatholic.life/saints/saints-of-the-liturgical-year/14-december-saint-john-of-the-cross-priest-and-doctor--memorial/

The Mystical Journey to Divine Union: Spiritual Wisdom from Saint John of the Cross

https://mycatholic.life/books/the-mystical-journey-to-divine-union-spiritual-wisdom-from-saint-john-of-the-cross/

Examination of Conscience and Guide to Sacrament of Confession:

https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/examination-of-conscience/

Ultimate Catholic Parents Guide:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ls6IcexZAls

Summary and Defense of Catholic Teachings:

https://www.catholic.com/tract/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth