The Gospel from the memorial of St. Teresa of Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, is taken from Luke 9:57, 62 as Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus answered him, foxes have dens, and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to rest his head. And to another he said, follow me. But he replied, lord, let me go first and bury my father. But he answered him, let the dead bury the dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.

Another said, I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home. Jesus answered him, no one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God. Father, we have always in our hearts a call from you to do the work you’ve called us to, and I ask your blessing for all of us as we encourage. Imagine the work that we can accomplish by simply being who you call us to be. The world will not change from the top to the bottom, but from the bottom up. Each of us have an important role, and when we’re engaged in it, we find peace.

Take a few moments to reflect upon these thoughts and then I will close with a prayer. Foreign Father, we need to understand and we long for your wisdom. Nothing is more important to us than to understand who you are and who we become when we allow you to enter into us. Bless us with wisdom and we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.