Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Teresa of Ávila, V.D., (15th October, 2018) on the Gospel
and the Memorial
Gal 4:22-24.26-27.31 – 5:1;
Ps 112:1-7. (R. v.2);
Lk 11:29-32.
Saint Teresa of Ávila (28th March, 1515 - 4th
October, 1582) was born in Ávila, Spain. As a teenager, she cared only about
boys, clothes, flirting, and rebelling. At the age of 16, she was sent to a
convent because her father saw her as one out of control. She started to learn
and practice mental prayer when she was installed a permanent member of the
Carmelite Order. Everyone liked her and she liked to be liked. This however often
led her to ignore God. Although wasn't sinning, but she was very attached to
her friends until God asked her to stop. God then always came first in her
life. At the age of 43, she resolved to found a new convent that would embrace a
simple life of poverty and devoted to prayer. She was opposed from both
religious and secular circles. However, soon she had postulants clamouring to
get into her reformed convents. Her ideas about prayer swept not only through
Spain but all of Europe. She died at the age of 67, beatified on 24th
April, 1614 by Pope Paul V, and canonized on 12th March, 1622 by
Pope Gregory XV. Teresa was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970 for her
writing and teaching on prayer. She is the founder of the Discalced Carmelites
and the patron saint of Headache sufferers.[1]
Topic: Numerical increment.
Just imagine what the comment of a bishop, a priest or a
pastor will be like when he/she observes that his/her congregation is increasing.
Certainly, majority will not only fan themselves but it will also form the
headline in a good number of publications that the church or ministry is
booming.
However, in today’s gospel, as the crowds increased, Jesus
said,
This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but
no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became
a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation.
Everybody, both those who occupy leadership positions in the
church and the rest of the members must consider seriously what they search for
in the house of God – God or something else? And all the leaders – the bishops,
priests, General overseers, pastors, prophets, prophetesses, and so on must
look beyond the number in the church and/or the ministry.
Numerical increment does not signify increment in faith. And without
faith, we can never please God, cf. Heb
11:6. The major problem we have in the world today is not the number of
Christians but the increasing lack of faith among Christians. If up to 10
percent of those who go by the name, Christians, are truly Christians, the
world will not be what it is today. It would have been far a better place. There
is urgent need for us to look for the increment in faith and not in number. Strong
faith attracts greater number. We need to sincerely ask God to increase our
faith through the intercession of Saint Teresa of Ávila.
Bible Reading: Jude 3:3-23.
Thought for today: Jesus is the Way not signs, cf. Jn 14:6.
Let us pray: Lord, assist us to look for you and
not for your signs – Amen.
Saint Teresa of Ávila – Pray for us.
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