On the Love of SS. John and Peter

I have written much on the love of God and holiness on this blog.

As the year comes to an end soon, and the Feast of St. John is upon us after Christmas, I want to revisit a strange saying of St. Bernard of Clairvaux

He has a fascinating sermon on two aspects of love regarding St. John and St. Peter.

St. Bernard,  in St. Peter and St. John, XLI, In Joannic Evang; Tract CXXIV.  Bernard says the Peter loved Christ more than John, but that Christ loved John more than He did Peter. This is a great mystery, but Bernard breaks down the problem by stating that Peter represents the Church Militant, the Church on earth and John represents the Church Triumphant in heaven.

What does Bernard mean? He explains that the two types reveal how we Catholics are both the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant.

What does the great saint mean? By entering into a love relationship with Christ now, here on earth and by practising meditation and contemplation, we enter into the mystery of being, as I have noted before, both Mary and Martha.

But, what of God's love for us? He does not love us all the same. St. Bernard's graces are far beyond what I am given and he responded accordingly. He was very humble in his greatness and wrote one time that seeing a holy monk in the monastery would bring him to tears and repentance.

Let us go back to Peter and John. The Church Militant on earth striving to become holy and maintaining faithfulness in the throes of chaos and persecution, and, in addition, if needed, taking the offensive, is busy, active, demanding.

Peter had to rule the Church by his example as well as his decisions. He had to repent, but then take the lead and help all the rest of his brothers and sisters. What a good example he must have been, as he had experienced failure, but came back to be the leader God had called him to be.

That he loved Christ more than John in Bernard's sermon must means that love must be active and zealous. John represents the rest of love in heaven. He rested on Christ's breast at the Last Supper, he was not active, but peaceful in the love of Christ. He was in the receiving position, not the giving position, of love.

The contemplative life is one of receiving.

The post-modern mind-set cannot bear contemplation. Reflection has been replaced by all the possible ways of communicating with friends and acquaintances  One can hardly get away from the mobile phone.

The post-modern generations live in noise and distraction. Unless they find the quiet and reflection they need to discover their own souls, they will spiritually die. The Church Militant can starve Herself to death without contemplation. We need both now more than ever.