A reflection on the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the church, by Father Perry.
The most common meaning or understanding of the word “author” is: the writer of a book.
But a more subtle and textured meaning is: the originator of something/anything or even the creator of something/anything.
Today in IsaiahGod claims the title of author but not of something/anything, but rather of everything!
God proclaims or stakes the claim as the author of all; and further, God claims there is no other!
If we attempted to create a list of all that God created it would read something like this, in question and answer form:
“Who made the earth?” we ask.
“I did!” God answered.
“Who made the stars and the moons and the sun and the asteroids?” we ask.
“I did!” God answered.
“Who made the dogs and the cats and the oysters and the penguins and the mice and the crows and …,” we ask.
“I did!” God answered.
At first, it would be maybe delightful and maybe even amusing to ask and ask and ask, “Who?“
But eventually it would become exhausting, at best, and impossible to ever reach the end of such a question and hear the same “I did” again and again and again.
And that is so because Isaiah tells us that God said it, and not only said “I did” but said “I am the only one who did. I am the creator of all!”
That is quite a statement. And the scriptures are filled with that testimony from God.
God also claims to author especially deep spiritual realities for consumption: If we see and hear and open our hearts to the God realities that are around us — and come from within us and can and are often shared among us — we discover wonders and awe and are filled with new life and new love, and grace and blessing.
So said Jesus, as he answered the question of John sent to Jesus through his messengers/disciples: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to look for another?”
And Jesus made it quite clear that he was the one who was to come, and indeed who has come and has fulfilled the prophecies of old.
He proved that the author of all indeed, the one, who said in so many ways — and in so many times and through so many events and happenings — said it clearly, as spoken through the psalm today: “Turn to me and be safe, all the ends of the earth, for I am God; and there is no other!”
God uttered it, and it was so.
“Let the clouds rain down the just one, and the earth bring forth a Savior.”
And God said: “I did!”
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
