Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Teresa of Ávila, V.D., (15th October, 2019) on the Gospel
and the Memorial
Rom 1:16-25;
Ps 18:2-5. (R.v.2);
Lk 11:37-41.
Saint Teresa of Ávila (28th March, 1515 - 4th
October, 1582) was born in Ávila, Spain. As a teenager, she cared only about
boys, clothes, flirting, and rebelling. At the age of 16, she was sent to a
convent because her father saw her as one out of control. She started to learn
and practice mental prayer when she was installed a permanent member of the
Carmelite Order. Everyone liked her and she liked to be liked. This however often
led her to ignore God. Although wasn't sinning, but she was very attached to
her friends until God asked her to stop. God then always came first in her
life. At the age of 43, she resolved to found a new convent that would embrace a
simple life of poverty and devoted to prayer. She was opposed from both
religious and secular circles. However, soon she had postulants clamouring to
get into her reformed convents. Her ideas about prayer swept not only through
Spain but all of Europe. She died at the age of 67, beatified on 24th
April, 1614 by Pope Paul V, and canonized on 12th March, 1622 by
Pope Gregory XV. Teresa was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1970 for her
writing and teaching on prayer. She is the founder of the Discalced Carmelites
and the patron saint of Headache sufferers.[1]
Topic: Beyond materials.
Whenever we hear or speak of charity, minds often go to material
things alone. And as a result, many have judged themselves incapable of being charitable.
However, in today’s gospel, Jesus shows us another dimension.
A Pharisee was amazed seeing Jesus sat at the table in his
house without first washing His hands according to the tradition. He said to him,
“Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you
are full of greed and wickedness.... So give for alms those things that are
within; and see, everything will be clean for you.”
The within Jesus demands that we give for alms what it holds
has also what defiles, cf. Matt 15:11,
18; Mk 7:20. Jesus is telling us that God demands much more than the
material things. We ought to be charitable with all we have. Again, everybody has
something to offer. Find out what you have and be aware that God demands you to
be charitable with all.
Bible Reading: Matt 15:10-20.
Thought for today: God demands everything.
Let us pray: Lord, help us to be charitable with
everything you blessed us with – Amen.
Saint Teresa of Ávila – Pray for us.
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others if you consider it worthy.
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