Readings:
Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17
Luke 10:17-24
Reflection
God allows us to be little. Today is the feast day of one of the youngest doctors of the church St Therese of the Child Jesus. Born in 1873 in Alencon France and entering into the Carmelite monastery at the young age of 15, St Therese of Lisieux had a profound humble but devout love of God. St Therese, as recorded in her autobiography a “Story of a Soul” had a Little Way of spiritual childhood, a way of trust and absolute surrender. Her life, by worldly standards was not much, dying only at the young age of 24 and yet she is one of the most beloved modern-day saints within her ordinarily way of achieving great holiness in the smallest actions of love.
In today’s gospel reading we read the beautiful line of Jesus being filled with Joy in the Holy Spirit praising His Father for the ways he makes the gospel known not to the wise but to the Childlike (21). We can pray in our own lives that we be like the Apostles and St Therese in their childlike surrender to God.
So often I am caught trying to do things by my own strength. Being Christian without Christ. I am reminded in absolute humbleness that through the power and love of God, he allows me to be little. Like how Job responds in awe to God and the psalmist too. That in the company of Jesus we can learn to rest and be like children in our parent’s arms, trusting they have everything taken care of.
Rejoicing that our names be written in heaven (20)
Claire O’Donohue is a current Oxley Passionist Youth Retreat Team member. While also in her final year of university, she is completing her bachelor’s degree with a major in visual art and theology.