Wednesday of the third week of Advent year A
Theme: Renewal
Today the church celebrates the memorial of St John of the cross, priest and Doctor of the church. He was a Carmelite and collaborated with St. Theresa of Avila to bring about renewal in the Carmelite congregation. He lived a very modest life and wrote extensively on the spiritual life. He was zealous about helping to make the Carmelite congregation remain on the right path.
In the same way, we need renewal in different aspects of our lives as a people. It has to begin in our lives as individuals, then in our families and lastly in the world. A lot of things have gone wrong in our world today, and there is need for renewal, that will bring about the desired change that will lead us to the right path. This is seen in the different facets of our lives as a people. We need men and women with the zeal of St. John of the cross and St. Theresa of Avila who will be selfless and give everything to ensure that this desired renewal is actualized in our life. They were able to achieve this renewal through their way of lives and their teachings.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, many of us in the world today desire this renewal in the different facets of our lives as a people. Whether in the family life or in our economic life, in religious life and in so many other aspects of our lives. This change that many of us desire is such that we have to be ready to pay the price that goes with renewal. Just like the Saint we celebrate his memorial today; he went through a lot of persecutions and pains because of his desire to bring about the desired change and renewal. Some people will fight against it, but it must not stop us from working hard to bring about the desired change and renewal that we seek for the common good. Often times, an individual or a group of people will pay the price to bring about the change and renewal that we seek. Let it begin with you today!
St. John of the cross wrote extensively on the spiritual life, and he used it as a platform through which he served God. We can decide to use any other means to bring about the desired change and renewal that we need today in our world. We pray that through the intercession of Saint John of the cross, we will be worthy instrument in the hand of the Lord, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Peace be with you.