Bible Diary

Daily Reading

St Therese of Child Jesus

LECTIONARY
458

FIRST READING

2 Cor 10:17-18, 11:1-2

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

PSALM

Ps 131:1, 2, 3

Response: In you, Lord, I have found my peace.

O LORD, my heart is not proud,
nor are my eyes haughty;
I busy not myself with great things,
nor with things too sublime for me.

Nay rather, I have stilled and quieted
my soul like a weaned child.
Like a weaned child on its mother's lap,
so is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD,
both now and forever.

GOSPEL

Mt 18:1-4

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Daily Reflection

Today, the Church celebrates the life of the Little Flower – St Thérèse of the Child Jesus – Patroness of the Missions. For those familiar with the life of Thérèse, it may seem rather strange that she would come to be known as the ‘Patroness of the Missions’, for she barely stepped out of the convent, as she was always ailing. And yet, she literally took the Gospel to the homes of all those ministered to by priests and missionaries, through her prayers and sacrifices for them – which she believed was her special calling. Thérèse was favoured by signal graces and advanced rapidly in holiness. Her child-like simplicity, utter humility, constant self-sacrifice and faithfulness to God were her most outstanding virtues. She died of Consumption at 24.

The Gospel text today has been very aptly chosen for this feast, as it has Jesus reminding His disciples that the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are those who are child-like: trusting and dependent on the love of God.

In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies to an exiled race, calling them to rejoice even amidst their misery, for their trust and dependence on the Lord will be rewarded with the birth of a new Jerusalem.