Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Today we are confronted with one of those strange sayings of Jesus in the Gospels: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force. Clearly, Jesus does not condone violence. After all, he tells us, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. And even more, he tells us, Blessed are the meek.
And yet… there is a certain “violence” we can see in the lives of many saints. Catherine of Siena’s intense love for Christ and the Church fueled her critique of corrupt clergy in her time; she does not mince words in her writing. Francis Xavier’s desire to share the good news of Christ pressed him to go to China, though he died on that nation’s doorstep. Perhaps this is the “violence” of which Jesus speaks: love’s willingness to put all on the line, its fierce, “no-holds-barred” approach. Jesus himself loved to the end, even when that end meant the cross.
Let us reflect on this “violence” of love that can open the gates to the kingdom of heaven. Looking to the saints, let us ask for a share in their willingness to put their whole selves on the line for love, for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.