Feast of St. John of the Cross

He is the great mystic of Advent, who says that we are “face-to-face with Love’s own grace.” What wonderful words to ponder! Yet in contrast to John’s lofty poetry, he took for himself the most menial jobs wherever he was. Before he entered religious life he worked in a hospital for people with disgusting diseases. Besides bathing them, he sang songs to cheer them up. Even when he held high administrative posts he took the lowliest tasks. His life reminds us that no matter how soaring our spirituality, it must be grounded in humble day-to-day duties or we miss the whole meaning of the Incarnation.