Monday of the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Optional Memorial of St. John of the Cross, Priest

Brief Background:

St. John of the Cross (1542–1591) was a Spanish Carmelite friar, priest, and mystic known for his profound writings on the soul’s journey toward union with God. Born Juan de Yepes y Álvarez in Fontiveros, Spain, he entered the Carmelite Order and later collaborated with St. Teresa of Ávila to reform it, leading to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites—a branch devoted to prayer, simplicity, and contemplation. His commitment to reform brought great suffering; he was even imprisoned by his own community. Yet, during his imprisonment, he composed some of the most beautiful works of Christian mysticism, including The Dark Night of the Soul and The Ascent of Mount Carmel. These writings explore the purification and transformation of the soul through love and detachment from worldly things. Canonized in 1726 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1926, St. John of the Cross remains a guiding light for those seeking a deeper relationship with God. He is the patron saint of mystics, contemplatives, Spanish poets, and those seeking spiritual direction or union with God.

REFLECTION

In any relationship, trust is essential. But how do we come to trust someone? It usually grows from experience — from seeing how someone keeps their word, follows through, and stands by us in both good and difficult times. When a person proves themselves faithful and consistent, our confidence in them deepens.

The same goes for our relationship with God. Scripture gives us a long history of His faithfulness — how He has acted with power and love through the generations. God created the world from nothing, brought life from Sarah’s barren womb, and raised Jesus from the dead. Over and over again, He turns impossibilities into reality.

I’m sure in our own lives, we have seen God keep His promises, answer our prayers, or bring light out of dark moments. Maybe it was healing when you least expected it, strength in a time of loss, or peace in the middle of chaos. These are the quiet, personal ways God proves Himself faithful to us, just as He did to Abraham.

St. Paul reminds us that Abraham’s faith wasn’t a one-time feeling — it was a steady trust built on knowing who God is. Abraham looked at the facts — his old age, Sarah’s barrenness — and still chose to believe that God’s promise was greater than his own limitations. That’s what faith is: not ignoring the reality before us, but believing that God is greater than what we can see.

And Paul doesn’t stop there. He says that this story isn’t just about Abraham — it’s about us. “It was not for him alone that it was written… it was also for us, to whom it will be credited, who believe in the One who raised Jesus from the dead.” We, too, are invited into that same faith — a faith that trusts God not only to forgive our sins but to raise us to new life, to bring good out of evil, and to write hope where there once was despair.

So, as we reflect on God’s promises, let us remember: the God who brought life from Sarah’s womb and raised Jesus from the tomb is the same God who is at work in our lives today. He is still faithful, still powerful, and still able to do what He promised. All He asks of us is to trust — not blindly, but with the eyes of faith that have seen His goodness again and again.