Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Nehemiah 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 11 Luke 10:1-12

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer

I like trying to imagine what it must have been like to be a disciple, a follower of Jesus during his life.  These often seemingly common men and women  accomplished great things, and the gospels often show their very human sides.  What must it have been like to be sent away to prepare for Jesus to visit towns? The instructions in today’s gospel don’t make it appear to be an easy task.  This is no easy journey, no first-class junket.  The disciples hear the harvest is plenty, but laborers few.  They’ll be like lambs among wolves. They won’t have money or lunch.  These were truly road warriors.  But they did it.  We know that they had questions sometimes, and doubts. They still did it.  

That’s an important lesson for me. I need to keep taking the steps of my journey, even when I am not feeling particularly close to God. Remembering to do the little things, such as a quick prayer when I wake up; and a thank-you to God when grace helps me say the right thing in a difficult conversation; the time to center myself and reflect on the small blessings that I encounter everyday.

The deeds of the disciples and the small things that we each can do are brought together today as it is the feast of Saint Thérèse, virgin and doctor of the church. She’s also known as the Little Flower.  Though she lived in a cloister and died very young, she sought to find holiness in everyday life and everyday actions because she realized that she was probably not going to perform great deeds for God.

We have to listen for our own call and find holiness in life. For some that call will be for the road, and for some, the journey will take place closer to home. We have to be open and ready for the trip.