Anglican Mainstream

MONDAY – Feast of St. John of the Cross, Priest, Doctor of the Church (16^th Century)

This third week of Advent, our themes call us to become much more concrete about discerning naming our call and preparing the way for the Lord. We begin this week with joy, knowing that our celebration of all the ways our Lord comes to us is near.

We hear the prophetic words in these three lessons and we realize it is a call to us to seek grace especially in dealing with our fears and concerns about this world and the next. Time and time again the words of Gabriel are the backdrop for you reflection: "Do not be afraid." Fear lads us from the light, which can stop us from seeking God for the very help we need in our lives.

John of the Cross who struggled with fear and absence provides a helpful example of a person who in the midst of his culture desired to step back and get in touch with those fears and ask God to help us deal with the relationship with him and others that may make us apprehensive and the stress that can take us out of the spirit of Advent reflection.

PRAYER: O blessed Jesus, give me stillness of soul in You.  Let your mighty calmness reign in me.  Rule me, O King of Gentleness, King of Peace.

Discipline/Activity – Read Chapter IX from  Dark Night of Soul by St. John of the Cross http://www.ccel.org/ccel/john_cross/dark_night.vii.ix.html  . In this chapter, St. John describes how, although these purgation’s seem to blind the spirit, they do so only to enlighten it again with a brighter and intense light, which it is preparing itself to receive with greater abundance.

ANCIENT WISDOM/PRESENT GRACE : “God sustains every soul and dwells in it substantially, even though it be that of the greatest sinner in the world, and this union is natural. The supernatural union exists when God’s will and the soul’s will are in conformity. Therefore the soul rests transformed in God through love” – - St. John of the Cross, Book I of the Ascent to Mt. Carmel

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