Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Lectionary: 456

Thus says the LORD of hosts:
In those days ten men of every nationality, 
speaking different tongues, shall take hold,
yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,
“Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”



I'm sure many people would scoff at Zechariah's prophecy, but when you know the Lord it's not hard to imagine. 

First you know that you didn't choose to love God; he chose to draw you to himself and, wisely, you came. It's pretty mysterious, really; if it can happen to you it can happen to anyone. 

He certainly didn't call you for your extraordinary looks, talents or virtue. Or your wealth, prominent family or physical strength. In fact you have no idea why God should have called you to love Him. So you know God can call anyone he chooses, including millions of people who might, on any given day, start flocking to the Church. 

Then you consider how good it is to know the Lord. You echo the today's psalm with millions of people throughout the world who attend this weekday Mass, "God is with us." Emanuel, God is with us. 

In today's gospel the sons of thunder, James and John, attempt to impose their own timetable on God's work. They think everyone in Samaria should be flocking to the Lord now. They might say, "We have come to the Lord; look how wise we are! If you're smart you too will follow Jesus to Jerusalem." 

Of course they don't quite understand Jesus' mission to Jerusalem and its catastrophic trajectory. They don't realize how dearly they will have to pay for the privilege of discipleship. They probably have no clear idea of what Jesus is doing; nor do they understand they're in this merry band of pilgrims at God's behest, not their own. 

Jesus doesn't even slow down; he rebukes them as he marches to the next village. Later, in the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Luke will tell us of Phillip's successful mission to Samaria, and the hundreds who believed in Jesus. He tells us, "There was great joy in that city." 

As we celebrate this memorial of the virgin doctor Thérèse we see again how God gathers millions to hear the Word from an unpretentious young woman. She speaks of simplicity, of searching for God in the quiet places and finding God in unspectacular events. It's an unexpected message, perfectly attuned to an age that wants to find God entertaining. Let us go with her to prayer.