St John of the Cross Ascent of Mount Caramel
, 1.11
matter that the bird is held by a thin wire or a rope? The thread that holds a slight thought the bird as it remains attached to the rope, and while he will not have broken, he can fly ... And yet he only needs a good kick-wing to break the thread that bound.
Benedict
XVI Homily January 6, 2007
We have seen his star in the East and are come to worship the Lord (cf. Mt 2, 2). What convinced the Magi that the child was "King of the Jews" and the King of nations? They certainly have been persuaded by the sign of the star they had seen "rise" and who had stopped precisely on the whereabouts of the Child (cf. Mt 2, 9). But even the star would not have sufficed if the Magi were not people who are profoundly open to the truth. Unlike King Herod, absorbed by his interest power and wealth, the Magi were directed toward the goal of their research, and when they found it, although they were cultured men, they behaved like the shepherds of Bethlehem: they recognized the sign and adored the child, offering him the precious and symbolic gifts they had brought with them.
Bible - Old Testament
Isaiah 60, 1-6
Arise, Jerusalem, and shine! For your light appears, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Behold, darkness covers the earth, and a dark darkness the peoples; but Yahweh rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
nations to your light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up your eyes around you and see: All gather, they come to you, your son from afar, and thy daughters shall be carried on the arm.
You will see then, and you'll be radiant, your heart tremble and be enlarged, for the riches of the sea will head towards you, the wealth of the nations will come. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and ephah; all those from Sheba will come, they bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Yahweh.
St Augustine
Treaty on the Gospel of John, 19, 19
I seek not my will but the will of Him who sent me ... I seek not my will, that is to say, my own will, the will of the Son of man, a will to resist the will of God. When men do what they want instead of ordered by the Lord, they act according to their will, not following the will of God, but when they do their will, so it remains subject than God, they act not according to their will own, though they do what they want. Voluntarily do what you order and will you even what you want, and instead of acting to your will, you will do that to your superior.
