Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, V.D. (3rd October, 2020) on the Gospel and the Memorial
Job 42:1-3.5-6.12-17;
Ps 118:66.71.75.91.125.130. (R. v. 135);
Lk 10:17-24.
Therese Martin (2nd January, 1873 – 30th September, 1897) was the last of the children born to Louis and Zelie Martin. Following her mother’s death when she was 4, her father and sisters babied young Therese. She had a conversion on Christmas Eve in 1886. Therese entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux at the age of 15 and took the name Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face. She lived a hidden, simple life of prayer, and she was gifted with great intimacy with God. Therese lived each day with an unshakable confidence in God's love. She wrote, “What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love.” Her spirituality is of doing the ordinary, with extraordinary love. Through sickness and dark nights of doubt and fear, she remained faithful to God, rooted in His merciful love. She died after a long struggle with tuberculosis. Her last words were: “My God, I love You!” She was canonized by Pope Pius XI on 17th May, 1925. Pope Saint John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church in 1997.
Topic: Cause of true joy.
The seventy Jesus sent on mission returned rejoicing because of the marvels God worked through them. Jesus cautioned them, “do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Lk 10:20).
Do you remember the last time you feel fulfilled? What caused that fulfilment? Certainly, it is one earthly achievement or another. Provided it is something good, that is not bad.
However, it will be nice also to recall when last we lived our lives truly as children of God. We must remember that fornication and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among us, as is fitting among saints (Eph 5:3). What do we see today?
Brothers and sisters in the Lord, no matter one’s achievement in this world the main cause of joy ought to be in union with God. We read from Saint Paul’s letter, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1Cor 2:9). Jesus is asking each and every one of us, “...what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?” (Lk 9:25; cf. Mk 8:36)
Bible Reading: 2Cor 5:11-21.
Thought for today: We are children of God, cf. 1Jn 3:1.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, help us to live in a way that our names will be written in heaven – Amen.
Saint Therese of the Child Jesus – Pray for us.
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