HOMILY, SATURDAY OF THE 26TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
ST THERESA OF THE CHILD JESUS [MEMORIAL]
[Theresa Martin obtained permission to enter the Carmelites of Lisieux(France) at the age of 15. She developed a spiritual approach of striving for holiness through her child-like confidence in God’s love and mercy known as the ‘the little way’ After period of illness and intense suffering from tuberculosis, she died at the age of 24 on 30 September 1897, offering her life for the salvation of all peoples. Pope Pius proclaimed her patroness of the Missions.] Daily Missal.
Job 42:1-3.5-6.12-17, Luke 10:17-24.
The greatest of all knowledge is the knowledge of the mysteries of God. To know Jesus and his might surpasses all other knowledge.
God is after our souls and not majorly after what he is using us to do. As he makes use of us, he wants to gain our souls at the same time. Therefore, when we glory in what we are doing for him, or we take too much pride in them, we may lose sight of our need to be saved. Like St Theresa, we must humbly savour and relish the status we have gained in Christ.
It was pride that brought Satan down. Hence the Lord exclaimed,
“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
When we glory in the gifts of the Holy Spirit and refused to give room for his fruits to bloom in us, we cannot last in the race. Jesus wants us to cherish the rare privilege which we enjoy. He does not want us to take his presence for granted.
May St Theresa pray for us, and may the Lord shower more of his grace upon us that we may enjoy the fullness of salvation. Amen.
