Category: Therese of Lisieux

Carmelite homily for Tuesday, March 17, 2020 – Lectionary 238 (Matthew 18:21-35)

I’m sure she said this ‘tongue in cheek’ but it’s a good quotation from Saint Therese.  She says, “There is one science God does not know – arithmetic.  Our sins only serve to glorify the mercy of God.”  That’s exactly what’s going on in today’s Gospel.  A man comes in to the steward owing a large amount and the steward doesn’t know arithmetic and forgives it all.  And then the man runs into someone who owes him a small amount but demands arithmetic, ‘you owe me this money!’  If God does not know arithmetic, Jesus is saying, then we shouldn’t know arithmetic.  We shouldn’t demand revenge, or an eye for an eye, or a tooth for a tooth.  As Saint Paul says, “Love keeps no record of a wrong.”  That’s the call of today’s Gospel: to know no arithmetic.  

Carmelite homily for Thursday, March 12, 2020 – Lectionary 233 (Luke 16:19-31)

Today we have the well-known parable of the rich man (oftentimes called Divés) and Lazarus.  And when they both died the rich man goes below and Lazarus goes above, to the bosom of Abraham.  Why?  Because one was rich and one was poor?  Or is it deeper here?  Here’s what Saint Therese writes, “Only God can see what is at the bottom of our hearts; we are half-blind.”  I think it’s the bottom of our hearts that tells us, directs us, guides us to where we’re going.  Let’s ask the Lord to shed great light on our hearts so that we’re not blind like the rich man.  

Carmelite homily for Wednesday, March 11, 2020 – Lectionary 232 (Matthew 20:17-28)

Today we have a very sad passage because Jesus tells the disciples, ‘they’re going to hand me over to the chief priests and scribes who will hand me over to the Gentiles where I’ll be scourged and mocked and crucified.’  And how do the disciples respond?  By saying, ‘who’s going to be first?’  And they send James’ and John’s mother there to even ask that question.  Saint Therese has a very different response.  Here’s what she writes, “Jesus, help me to simplify my life by learning what you want me to be and becoming that person.”  I think that’s what Jesus is asking of all of us, and asking of the disciples – not ambition – but to simplify and be who they, and who we, are called to be.  

Carmelite homily for Monday, March 2, 2020 – Lectionary 224 (Matthew 25:31-46)

Saint Therese reports in her autobiography, Story of a Soul, that there was a nun in the convent that no one got along with, including Therese.  But Therese said, ‘she is a beloved child of God.’  So she said to herself, “I am resolved to do for this sister what I would do for the person I love the most.”  I think that’s the call of today’s Gospel.  We have the separation of the sheep and the goats where if someone is hungry or thirsty or naked or sick or in prison, we do something.  But what about other things?   Like lonely or ostracized or hurting or bullied?  I think this is the call, that whatever we see right in front of us, do that.  And that’s the action of a beloved sheep.

Carmelite homily for Friday, February 28, 2020 – Lectionary 221 (Matthew 9:14-15)

Saint Therese of Lisieux has the line, “It is better to love Jesus on his terms.”  In today’s Gospel we have the disciples of John the Baptist saying they’re fasting and the Pharisees are fasting.  Why aren’t your disciples fasting?  I think we oftentimes still do that to Jesus.  We want to impose our expectations, our demands on Jesus.  I think Therese is right, it is better to love Jesus on his terms. 

Carmelite homily for Monday, February 17, 2020 – Lectionary 335 (Mark 8:11-13)

Today we have the Pharisees coming to Jesus and asking for a sign.  And the passage says that he sighed from the depth of his spirit.  Because we know there’s no pleasing the Pharisees.  They would just get into an argument and continue their self-righteousness.  I think that’s why Therese gives very good advice – very hard advice – but very good advice which, I think, Jesus is following in today’s Gospel.  Therese writes, “When we are misunderstood and judged unfavorably what good does it do to defend our explain ourselves?  It is so much better to say nothing and allow others to judge us as they please.”  Wow, is that a difficult quotation, a difficult maxim, a difficult way.  But, I think, we see Jesus in today’s Gospel doing that and calling us to do the same.  

Carmelite homily for Saturday, February 15, 2020 – Lectionary 334 (Mark 8:1-10)

Last week I talked about Therese and there was a sister in that convent no one could get along with, so Therese finally said, “I am resolved to do for this sister what I would do for the person I love the most.”  What was it that Therese did?  But smile!  Every time she saw the sister – whether in chapel, or at recreation, or at work duties – she smiled.  Changed the sister, small thing, changed the sister, changed the convent, changed Therese, changed us.  Because we read about this and are inspired today.  One smile!  I think that parallels perfectly what’s going on in today’s Gospel.  Jesus and the disciples face this big crowd.  Jesus asks, ‘what kind of food do you have?’ and they say, ‘seven loaves.’  What is seven loaves?!  It’s like that smile – it’s enough.  That’s the call of today’s Gospel.  Whatever you have on hand – whether a smile, or a loaf, or whatever – share that.  That will change everything.  

Carmelite homily for Monday, February 10, 2020 – Lectionary 329 (Mark 6:53-56)

In the autobiography, Story of a Soul, of Saint Therese, she talks about one of the sisters who displeased her in everything – her ways, her manner, her speech – everything displeased her.  And Therese wanted to run whenever this sister approached.  But, she writes, “I am resolved to do for this sister what I would do for the person I love the most.”  So every time this sister came in the room, or when they were at recreation, or working together, Therese, who really wanted to run away, would smile instead.  And it brought healing and brought peace, and joy, to the whole convent.  I think that’s the invitation of today’s Gospel.  Yes, Jesus is healing the multitudes and we say, how could we do that?  I think all it takes is a simple smile to bring healing to the multitudes. 

Carmelite homily for Sunday, February 9, 2020 – Lectionary 73 (Matthew 5:13-16) 

In today’s Gospel we have interesting images – that YOU are the salt of the earth; that YOU are the light of the world. What is Jesus getting at?  I think it’s what adds zest and energy to life, and that’s love.  Food without salt is bland.  Beauty without light is invisible.  That love adds so much.  Saint Therese of Lisieux writes, “Without love even the most brilliant deeds count as nothing.”  So you can have the most brilliant food; it’s bland without salt.  The most brilliant art; it’s bland without light.  Be light, be love, be salt, be Jesus, today.  

Carmelite homily for Saturday, February 1, 2020 – Lectionary 322 (Mark 4:35-41)

In the Gospel today we have the apostles in a boat with Jesus.  A storm comes up; Jesus is sleeping.  They wake him up and say, “don’t you care that we’re going to die?!”  These storms do come up in our lives.  Saint Therese of Lisieux writes, “I knew Jesus was there, sleeping in my boat but the night was so black it was impossible to see him.”  I think the invitation here is that no matter how intense the storm is or how black the night is, know that Jesus is there.  And relax, be confident, have faith – the invitation today.