Little Flower Archives

Flowers in the Garden of God

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 480 – Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Carmel means “Garden of God” – Carm-El. That’s why the saints, the Carmelites saints, are likened to flowers, like the Little Flower called herself “Little Flower.” Here’s what Titus Brandsma in his book, “Carmelite Mysticism Historical Sketches,” says about Mary. “Mary is like a sunflower. This flower rises high above the other flowers. It is a simple flower. It can grow in all gardens. It is tall and firm with deep roots, always pointing towards the sun, yet keeping its head down in humility.” Today, in the Gospel, Jesus uses agricultural – gardening – metaphors. What kind of flower are you? Are you a weed? Are you a beautiful flower? Are you like Therese, a simple flower?

The Doors Open and the Doors Close

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 661 (Feast of Saint Luke) – Friday, October 18, 2019

Saint Therese is oftentimes called the Greatest Saint of Modern Times because she uses modern imagery in her writings. For example, she’ll say, “you can climb the rough staircase of perfection or ride the smooth elevator of love.” It’s a great image of going to heaven. But I extend it because when you take an elevator the doors open and the doors close; people get on and people get off. Sometimes they’re not people you want to deal with or sometimes they’re people who will help or give you advice. The elevator doors open and the elevator doors close on our journey to heaven. So in today’s Gospel, Jesus is sending the seventy-two and we think that they’re going to different places to prepare the way for him. No! They’re all going to you. One at a time. It’s like there are seventy-two floors – each one to teach you generosity, or patience, or fidelity, or hope, or optimism, or life, or love. Finally, the doors will open and there will be Jesus. But it takes the seventy-two to get us there.

What Good Does It Do?

Carmelite homily for Lectionary 469 – Wednesday, October 16, 2019

There’s a quotation of Saint Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, that is so good that I keep it on my desk. She says, “When we are misunderstood and judged unfavorably, what good does it do to defend or explain ourselves? It is so much better to say nothing and allow others to judge us as they please.” Wow, is that tough! In today’s Gospel we have the Pharisees and the Sadducees and the Scribes all being criticized by Jesus because of their self-righteousness. Instead of looking at themselves, they defend themselves and they attack Jesus and each other. I think Therese is right. Sanctity is, “When we are misunderstood and judged unfavorably; it is so much better to say nothing and allow others to judge us as they please.”