Today is the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church. What I know of John of the Cross is meager (at best) compared to what others know, but one thing I do know is that he was an avid writer and among his work is a significant body of poetry (more on his poetry later). That he was such an avid writer is, for me, fitting as I read today’s scripture since doing so made me snatch with surprising readiness a memory from high school English: that of the primary styles of writing (i.e., persuasive, narrative, etc.).

See, in today’s scripture God the Father (first reading) and Jesus (gospel) are speaking in the same voice, or ‘style’: a declarative one. In Isaiah, God is stunningly direct in his weighty declarations about who he is and what he does.

I am the LORD, there is no other;
I form the light, and create the darkness,
I make well-being and create woe;
I, the LORD, do all these things.
Let justice descend, O heavens, like dew from above,
like gentle rain let the skies drop it down…

(Goodness, it’s almost as though God is entering the boxing ring! What a litany!)

Then again, in Luke, Jesus is responding to questions from two of John the Baptist’s disciples who question who he is. With identical bluntness, Jesus declares:

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. 

These are unrivaled acts, all, by Father and Son. There is no more to be said: except, why. Why have Father and Son labored to bring these things about? Perhaps in answer, we can turn to the somewhat hidden tenderness in their words also included with the above. From the Father, Turn to me and be safe. From the Son, …blessed is the one who takes no offence at me. These deeds are all done out of love for us. (Enter John of the Cross.) Third in one series of the Saint’s poems collectively named ‘Romances’ comes an imagined conversation between Father and Son in a section titled ‘On creation’. As Father bestows his gift to his Son (the Son’s bride), the Son replies:

‘I am very grateful’
the Son answered;
‘I will show my brightness
to the bride you give me,
so that by it she may see
how great my Father is,
and how I have received
my being from your being.
I will hold her in my arms
and she will burn with your love,
and with eternal delight
she will exalt your goodness.’

Saint John of the Cross, on this, your memorial, pray that we may wonder at God’s creative deeds and at the profound and unconditional love for us from which these are born. Let us surrender ourselves to be scooped up in his arms and radiate his love for us to all we meet.

Note: The poetry excerpt used comes from The Collected Works of St. John of the Cross; ICS Publications (Washington, D.C.), 2017.