Declarations

Homily for Wednesday of the Third Week in Advent

As I pondered the verses that we read today from both the Prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of St. Luke, I was reminded of a rather basic high school lesson plan that I prepared many years ago. In that lesson plan, it was my aim to help the students distinguish the various types of writing; namely, declaration, narration, persuasion, and description. Both the reading from Isaiah as well as that of St. Luke fall into the very first category, declaration. Isaiah takes on the voice of God and declares who God is in no uncertain terms. In answer to the question posed to him by John the Baptist’s disciples, Jesus is quite blunt in his answer. “Go tell John what you have seen and heard!” The acts of both the Father and Jesus are unrivaled by all. Nothing more needs to be said, except perhaps to ask “Why.” Why have the Father and Jesus labored to bring these things about? The answer to that question is quite simple: they are done for love.

St. John of the Cross enters at this point. St. John was a prolific writer and penned some of the most beautiful romantic poetry ever written. 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.