By Whose Power and Authority (Monday, Advent 3, St John of the Cross)

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Introduction

The trajectory of the life of St John of the Cross moved from the “DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL” to “ASCENT TO MT CARMEL”. His life is a reflection of the immense power of the Cross and the authority of those who identify with it. Even in his sufferings, imprisonments and banishments, St John never felt intimidated by those who opposed goodness and discipline; he never lost sight of the track, his Christian identity was never blurred; he never lost his voice, never lost his Christian power and authority in the midst of thousands who chose the wrong way, who preferred darkness to light. St John of the Cross teaches us not to feel intimidated by the “world” or anything that opposes goodness. Even as the voice of evil roars, may we always let the voice of goodness in us roar louder! Even if the darkness of immorality thickens more and more, let us not allow the few stars of moral of decency in us to be suffocated by the thickness of the darkness around us. We must continue to shine even if everyone aligns with darkness! We must continue to stand out! We must continue to lead in our little ways!

      

Reflection

A star is beautiful. Once it appears, the sky is beautified. Amongst the heavenly bodies, it stands out. In the olden days, it guides and leads. A crown, a symbol of royalty, success, victory, high achievement and excellence, loses its beauty and meaning if it is not decorated with star-like gems. All in all, a star is a strong metaphor for sovereignty, beauty, success and excellence. A scepter is a royal staff used as an emblem of a king’s authority and power. 

Prophet Balaam prophesied that a star shall come forth out of Jacob and a scepter shall arise out of Israel. In other words, the Prophet saw authority, power, leadership, excellence, beauty and victory looming large in Israel, in the house of Jacob. But where were the people of Israel when this prophecy came? Interestingly, at the time this prophecy was released, the people of Israel were still journeying in pains and agony through deserts, hills and forests, hoping and believing that they would reach the Promised Land. Amongst the ancients, who would have believed that the king of the universe, the universal guide and the redeemer of the human race shall spring from Israel? Not just from Israel but from the stock of Jesse, from Bethlehem the smallest clan of Israel, the unpopular house of bread, from those who were wandering in the desert through plains and hills? The prevailing situation of the Israelites then was painful and sorrowful, but their belief was that victory, joy, success and beauty shall be theirs at the end of their sorrowful journey. The people of Israel reached the Promised Land; and after so many years, the STAR and the SCEPTER fully rested on Jesus, the Son of David, from the stock of Jesse. 

When God speaks hope for seemingly hopeless situations, it sounds like a joke. When God says that water will flow in the desert, it sounds like a child’s talk. When God’s word assures us that we are princes or princesses; that we are part of the universal royal family of Jesus the King, some of us laugh it off and prefer to live, think, behave like slaves to the world. The star and the scepter are our inheritance.

Just like the Jewish chief priests and elders questioned to know the power and authority of Jesus (cf. Matt. 21:23-27), sometimes the world will directly or indirectly question you and seek to know the source of your power, your authority, your beauty, your victory, your success and so on. Be proud to identify with God, the source and origin of, and the brain behind your achievements, your power, your authority, your beauty, your excellence, your success and so on. Sometimes, you don’t even need to respond to some questions that are ill-intentioned. But always be proud to identify with God and goodness! Stand out, continue to shine and lead. Don’t let your voice of faith in God and in yourself be drowned out by the voice of unbelief around you, Amen!  



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