Saints + Scripture: Advent

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.C.D. (1542-1591), co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites, formally the Order of the Discalced Carmelites of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link, Wikipedia-link Doctors, & Wikipedia-link O.C.D.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Not to be confused, as I am apt to do, with his near-contemporaries, also active in Spain, St. John of Ávila [1499-1569, 10 May], also a Doctor of the Church, & St. John of God [1495-1550, 8 March].

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was a major figure of the Counter-Reformartion, a Spanish mystic, a Roman Catholic saint, a Carmelite friar & a priest. John of the Cross is known for his writings. Both his poetry & his studies on the growth of the soul are considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature & one of the peaks of all Spanish literature.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Spyridon of Cyprus, Bishop (circa 270-348; A.K.A. of Corfu, of Tremithus, the Wonder-Worker), who attended the First Council of Nicaea (325): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Viator of Bergamo, Bishop (died 370): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Folcwin of Thérouanne, Bishop (circa 916-955; also spelt Folquin, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Nimatullah Kassab, Priest, O.L.M. (1808-1858, A.K.A. Youssef Kassab Al-Hardini): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Second Week in Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter forty-eight, verses seventeen, eighteen, & nineteen;
Psalm One, verses one & two, three, & four & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses sixteen thru nineteen.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel the Pharisees compare the eating habits of John the Baptist, who fasted, and Jesus, who dined with sinners. In the carefully stratified society of Jesus’ time, a righteous person would never associate with the unrighteous, for fear of becoming unclean.

But here is Jesus, scandalizing everyone because he does indeed break down these barriers. How would you feel if you saw me socializing with prostitutes and drug-dealers, eating and drinking with terrorists? Would it shock you, dismay you, disappoint you? But this is what Jesus did, precisely because he was the Incarnation of the God who aggressively seeks out the lost.

God looks for us, comes running after us, never lets go, never relents, never gives up. The more we run, the more he runs after; the more we hide, the more he looks; the more we resist, the more he persists. God loves sinners and associates with them.

Video reflection by Reverend Ed Hauf, O.M.I.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. John of the Cross
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter two, verses one thru ten(a);
Psalm Thirty-seven, verse thirty(a);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-five thru thirty-three.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Open your hearts to Christ & go out to meet Him; quench your thirst at His spring. He offers a water that will satisfy your thirst for truth, for joy, for happiness, & for love."
—Pope St. John Paul Ii the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"My own glory will be the reflection of the Church's glory."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Just imagine a perfect day in springtime: birds are singing, the rushing river sparkles nearby, mountains are seen in the distance. All nature seems to be reflecting the divine power of the Creator. In all of this peace one man goes to a river where fish live in contentment because they are wet. He takes one fish out of that water & holds it up. Where is that fish at that moment? That fish is in hell. See how close he is to heaven. Everything else is heavenly, but he is in hell because he was made to be wet, we were meant to be with God. Then we will be in heaven."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)