A Reflection for the Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
You can find today’s readings here.
"Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come…” (Mt 17:12)
There’s a brilliant scene in an old episode of “The Simpsons” in which Homer, whose intelligence increased dramatically after removing a crayon from his brain, meets his neighbor, the devout Ned Flanders, on his way to a Sunday service.
“Hey Flanders! Heading for church? Well, I thought I’d save you a little time.”
Ned responds enthusiastically, “Oh! Found a new shortcut?”
“Better!” says Homer. And handing Ned a single sheet of paper, he continues confidently, “I was working on a flat tax proposal and I accidentally proved there is no God.”
“We’ll just see about that!” And taking the sheet of paper, Ned reviews the calculations, hoping to find a mistake. “Nope,” he reluctantly admits, “it’s airtight. Well, we can’t let this little doozy get out,” and pulling a lighter from his pocket he lights the paper on fire, only to reveal Homer in the background walking down the street placing copies on the windshield of every parked car.
What would we do as believers if one day there was definitive proof of the existence or non-existence of God? How would it change our lives, our values, our decisions? Or, think about it this way: What if we found definitive evidence that Jesus rose from the dead? Would it impact the people around us? Would it radically change our society?
I don’t think so. It would make news and a few people would engage with the evidence meaningfully. But most people would take note of it and carry on with their lives relatively unchanged.
Jesus preached with a sense of immanence and urgency, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt 4:17). He declared that the long-awaited coming of Elijah happened in the person of John the Baptist, and got frustrated when the people he encountered failed to see the presence of God in the signs around them.
Whether we’re staring at a mathematical equation or experiencing a transcendent event like the Transfiguration, the truth doesn’t easily change us. We say we value proof. But in reality, we tend to be dismissive, reluctant and stubborn about it. As the spiritual adage goes, “the longest journey is from the head to the heart.”
Today is the feast of St. John of the Cross, the 16th-century Spanish priest, mystic and Doctor of the Church. Like other mystics in the church’s contemplative tradition, John was intimately familiar with the long (and dark) journey from the head to the heart. He spent his life trying to be honest with himself about himself, and detaching from the worldly and psychological roadblocks we construct that keep us from a deeper union with the truth—that is, with God. Inevitably, the exhaustive journey inward revealed that God was already within him, as God is within us. The mystics are mystics because they are able to get out of their own way and let God’s love take over in them. Ultimately, love is the only real proof of God.
Get to know Sebastian Gomes
What is your favorite Advent/Christmas hymn?
This is a very difficult question and my answer has changed over time. I’m drawn to haunting carols that tell of the quiet revolution that is the Incarnation. If I had to choose one that’s touched my soul in recent years, I would say, “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”. You can learn about this beautiful hymn and how it uses the beautiful musical technique known as “suspensions” on this episode of “Hark! The Stories Behind Our Favorite Christmas Carols”.
What are you most proud to have worked on at America this year?
This year I worked on a really interesting video explainer on the question of women deacons in the Catholic Church. Women around the world are already doing deacon-like ministries in various pastoral situations, and the recent global synod discussed and debated it. So, we decided to create a definitive video explainer looking at the historical and theological questions related to women deacons and the key arguments made on either side of the debate. It was an opportunity for me to dive into a fascinating question while at the same time working with creative video editors and animators to produce a high quality product. Check it out here.
Do you have any seasonal reading or movie recommendations?
Unlike the Christmas carol question, this one is easy for me. My favorite Christmas movie is the 1966 animated television adaptation of Dr. Seuss' “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” When I was growing up we watched it every year on one of the four television channels we had access to. I would maneuver the “bunny ear” antennae on our 19” box TV until the picture came in reasonably well. It was the perfect way to appreciate the magic of the season along with a powerful lesson of redemption!
