Tuesday, October 1, 2024: Memorial of St Theresa of the Child Jesus.
Readings: Job 3:1-3;11-17;20-23, Psalm 88, Luke 9:51-56
Theme: THE PROPER USE OF AUTHORITY
As we begin a new month, the Mother Church gives us the Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, born in France 1873. She obtained the permission to enter the Carmelites of Lisieux at the age of 15. She developed a spiritual approach of striving for holiness through the child-like confidence in God’s love and mercy known as the “little way”. After a period of illness and intense suffering from tuberculosis, she died at the age of 24 on 30th September 1897, offering her life for the salvation of all peoples. As she died , she said; “I am not dying, I am entering life”. Her example of holiness has been received with great enthusiasm by all the faithful and even outside Christianity. Pope Pius XII proclaimed her patroness of the Missions.
Jesus firmly resolved to proceed toward Jerusalem. He predicted how His people would reject Him. They will reject their own saviour out of envy, prejudice, closed minds, an unwillingness to change and be converted. Jesus knows why He is going to Jerusalem, and what will happen to Him there. He has already asked His followers to carry that Cross with Him.
Notice how the disciples want to respond by punishing rejectors. Jesus says, “No”. He reprimands them for having an attitude of resentment and revenge.
Jesus uses the opportunity to teach them how to use their authority. That proper use of authority is not for killing or destroying rather it is for love, building up one another, and servicing one another. The disciples learnt that it is not necessary to fight for Jesus.
In some religions the followers fight and defend their god! There is no need to fight for Jesus instead we should make an effort to fight off:
1. Our ignorance of not knowing Jesus.
2. The laziness of being lukewarm christians (Revelation 3:15-16).
3. The vices of evil in our hearts (cf. Galatians 5:20-21).
4. Things and people who keep us away from God and Church (saving groups/ aka box- okushukirana on Sundays, morning Sunday market days, morning exercises on Sundays by rich people etc).
5. Practices and habits that prevent us from living as faithful Christians such as witchcraft, illegal marriages and cohabiting by university students.
St. Therese of the child Jesus had strong faith and demonstrated in these words: “God would never inspire me with desires which cannot be realized, so in spite of my littleness, I can hope to be a Saint”. It is only when we have fought this good fight of faith in God, that we can become good and committed christians:
1. How often have I participated in the rejection of Jesus in my words and actions?
2. How often have I rejected my family as far as caring for it is concerned?
3. Do I have some traits of self hate in my life expressed in over drinking, smoking and other abusive addictions of our time such as pornography?
4. Do I use my authority and power to promote life or to destroy it in common practices like artificial family planning and abortion?
5. How often do I tolerate laziness in my life as far as personal and community prayers such as Mass, the Rosary are concerned?
May St.Therese of the Child Jesus intercede for us to have deep faith in God and to do all it takes to promote evangelization in our families and small Christian communities. We can practically do this by participating in praying the Rosary during this month of October on personal, family and small Christian community level.
Lord God, instill in each one of us the good will to use our power and authority for service of God and neighbour. Amen!
Fr. Kwehangana Bagubwa Mathias.