Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin,
Doctor – Feast (1873 – 1897)
White
She was born in France on 2 January 1873 and entered the Carmel of Lisieux in 1888. Though her faith was seriously tested by sickness she grew in sanctity. She died at the age of 24 in 1897 with the following words: “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.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Deut 32:10-12
The Lord nurtured her and taught her; he guarded her as the apple of his eye. As the eagle spreads its wings to carry its young, he bore her on his shoulders. The Lord alone was her leader.
Collect
God of love, you have promised your kingdom to those who are willing to become like little children. Help us to follow the way of Saint Thérèse with confidence so that by her prayers we may come to know your eternal glory. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Job 3:1-3,11-17,20-23
Job broke the silence and cursed the day of his birth. This is what he said: May the day perish when I was born, and the night that told of a boy conceived. Why did I not die new-born, not perish as I left the womb? Why were there two knees to receive me, two breasts for me to suck? Had there not been, I should now be lying in peace, wrapped in a restful slumber, with the kings and high viziers of earth who build themselves vast vaults, or with princes who have gold and to spare and houses crammed with silver. Or put away like a still-born child that never came to be, like unborn babes that never see the light. Down there, bad men bustle no more, there the weary rest. Why give light to a man of grief? Why give life to those bitter of heart, who long for a death that never comes, and hunt for it more than for a buried treasure? They would be glad to see the grave-mound and shout with joy if they reached the tomb. Why make this gift of light to a man who does not see his way, whom God baulks on every side?
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 87:2-8
Let my prayer come into your presence, O Lord.
Lord my God, I call for help by day; I cry at night before you. Let my prayer come into your presence. O turn your ear to my cry..
For my soul is filled with evils; my life is on the brink of the grave. I am reckoned as one in the tomb: I have reached the end of my strength.
Like one alone among the dead; like the slain lying in their graves; like those you remember no more, cut off, as they are, from your hand.
You have laid me in the depths of the tomb, in places that are dark, in the depths. Your anger weighs down upon me: I am drowned beneath your waves.
Gospel Acclamation: Ps118:36,29
Alleluia, alleluia! Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, and teach me your law.Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 9:51-56
As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.
Prayer over the Offerings
Lord, we praise the wonder of your grace in Saint Thérèse. As you were pleased with the witness she offered, be pleased also to accept this service of ours. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 18:3
Unless you change and become like little children, says the Lord, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer after Communion
Lord, by the power of your love Saint Thérèse offered herself completely to you and prayer for the salvation of all. May the sacraments we have received fill us with love and bring us forgiveness. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The Samaritans would not welcome Jesus and his disciples because they are destined for Jerusalem. The attitude of the Samaritans suggests that they have an axe to grind with Jerusalem. According to James and John, they should get what their attitude merits – fire from heaven to consume them all. Jesus rebukes James and John. By so doing, Jesus teaches that violence in response to violence, hatred in response to hatred, rejection in response to rejection, can never be a solution to any problem. What is your attitude to those who disagree with you? How do we relate with those who have a different opinion from ours? Jesus invites us today to offer peace in return for war, love in return for hatred, acceptance in return for rejection.