蜜芽传媒

Good morning.

This last month I鈥檝e been reading with a friend the poetry of the sixteenth century Spanish Roman Catholic priest, Carmelite friar and mystic, whom we call John of the Cross. John is the patron saint of mystics, contemplatives and all Spanish poets. Many listeners will be familiar with him, but, as I know from teaching ministerial students, some Christians can be a bit suspicious of theology written as poetry! And perhaps it's a suspicion which is deepened by John鈥檚 emphasis on a love between God and our soul which he often describes in romantic and passionate language. And that suspicion is a shame, because rather like Song of Songs, John brings much-needed refreshment to a theological world that can feel dry at times. Here鈥檚 a quotation of his that we found particularly helpful and may also offer something to all of us who worry whether we are achieving enough: and gives us another way to measure our value.

鈥淚n the twilight of life, God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have loved.鈥�

God of love,

We thank for your servant John, for his poetry and prose where he shares with us the wisdom he learned along the way, and encourages us to follow in his footsteps. Thank you above all for his revealing to us that you are a God of infinite love, that you have created us for love, and that in the final analysis, love is all that matters.

In the name of your son Jesus, who was love made flesh,
Amen.