“Being inspired by St Thérèse of the Child Jesus – the Li’l Big Saint – to love deeper the Big Big God of Love!”
(Based on Job 19:21-27 and Lk 10:1-12 – Thursday of the 26th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2 – Feast of St Therese of Child Jesus)
“Yes, I have discovered my vocation! In the heart of the Church, I will be love”
- From the “Story of a Soul,” the Autobiography of the Little Flower
These words of great joy and exhilaration exhibit the essence of a Grand Discovery.
A Young Person had discovered her grand vocation!
The Church had discovered a grand saint!
Grand was the life that was lived.
Grand still more were the graces that followed…
A grand saint enshrined in a quiet life but adorned with much love and affection…
A saint who inspires many…
A saint who is loved by many…
A saint who induces much joy…
… St Thérèse of the Child Jesus- popularly known as the Little Flower of Lisieux.
We live in an age that relishes and appreciates insights related to growth, maturity, accountability and responsibility.
There is a love to hear “high” theology….
There is a craze to talk “systematic” thoughts and to discuss “complex” spiritualities…
Not that these are bad or not to be promoted…
… but these “mature” talks ought not to take one away from the basic aim of true spirituality: Love God and Loving Neighbour!
There is a tendency that these “advanced” talks often get jammed with only peripheral talks…
… and fail to translate into true action and deeds.
It is here, that our Little Saint of the Day – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (popularly known as the “Little Flower’) invites us to find a new freshness and sparkle in Spirituality.
She is the Little Saint who dared to love the Big God!
She is the Big Saint who presents to us the Little Way!
… and thus radiate joy and peace by our lives!
This Little Way of the Big Li’l Saint resonates with the Gospel of the Day, which is the incident of Jesus sending His Disciples on a mission journey…
… with an expectation that they “be messengers of peace”
“Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house’” (Lk 10:5)
Being a ‘messenger of peace’ called the disciples to be joyful and cheerful people…
They were to preach the Good News primarily by their life…
… And this life ought to have been a reflection of joy and peace!
The Lord also warns that there could be a possibility of being rejected (Cf. Lk 10:10)
However, the disciples were not to get discouraged or be bogged down by those experiences
We too are invited to be “messengers of peace”
And preach the Good News primarily by our life…
… making our life a reflection of joy and peace!
However, very often, we lose our sense of joy and plunge into disturbances, when encountered by the troubles of life.
Queries on why there is no joy or happiness may perhaps evoke some of the following replies:
“You don’t know the struggles what I’m going through.”
“How can you expect me to be cheerful when my marriage and family is falling apart?”
“God seems miles away from me, and you want me to cheer up?”
“My kids drive me nuts.”
“I’ve got cancer. How can I rejoice?”
“People have mistreated me and I’m not going to be happy until I get even.”
“If I had more money, I’d be happy.”
Do I identify myself with some of the above replies…..?
If yes, then we are challenged to rise above these our concerns…
… and to find the Treasure of True Joy
… and the Wealth of Genuine happiness in God!
The answer to life’s problems is not in reacting, but in being pro-active!
The Saint of the Day – St Therese of Child Jesus – invites us to be strong in our resolution for the Lord…
… and to be “childlike” – with immense trust in the Power and Providence of the Lord.
Her child-likeness had God as the Centre of her world…
God meant everything for this Little Saint.
She saw herself as ‘a child’ but energized by God who directed her journey in faith.
This is the spirituality of ‘childlikeness’: To have at the Centre and as the Ultimate, the One who can provide everything – God!
Is God the centre of my world…?
Little Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the Little Saint is also the Big Saint of Love!
All her actions were laced with love.
All her words were filled with love.
The Little lover of God invites us…
… to adorn all our words with love
… to embrace all our actions with love
… to beautify all our thoughts with love…
It could be…
… speaking with friends
… interacting with fellow workers
… discussing some business matters
… enjoying with family members..
It could be…
… doing household works
… handling massive finances
… studying various subjects
… performing some spiritual activities
It could be…
… thinking some philosophical views
… reflecting about some people
… considering about some situations
… imagining some circumstances
… dreaming some visions
Whatever… whatever!
Whatever be our words..or actions…or thoughts….let them be embellished in LOVE!
The Little Way…
… Sounds simple, but not so simple in practise, right?
Yet, there is much simplicity…
… ‘cos God remains at the centre of every effort and attempt!
Love demands a fidelity in the countless mundane ‘little’ things of daily life
The Little Flower dares to throw “petals” at the Loving Lord…
These petals are even considered “worthless petals” by the world – a little sacrifice, a gentle smile, a kind word, an appreciative action!
Sometimes, these “worthless petals” are nothing more than a faithful effort.
But this fact of “having tried”, a good will “to do good”…. all these petals please the Lord!
Let us join the Little Saint to tread the Little Way.
As we enter into the new month of October – the month of the Holy Rosary – as a child, let us hold the hands of Mamma Mary…
… and be inspired by St Thérèse – the Li’l Big Saint – to love deeper the Big Big God of Love!
Let us “live Love to give Love!”
Let us “live Jesus to give Jesus!”
Happy Feast of the Beautiful Little Flower!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
