St. Therese of Avila a Harvest on Jesus Field 

A Whatsapp message, “Jesus is not a corporate Guru, not a CEO of an MNC, not a true tycoon, not a marketing manger but owns a brand company named kingdom of God.” At the very outset I wish you the greetings and blessings of the heavenly patron’s day of St. Therese of Avila. Season of Diwali invites us to have a glimpse of advertisements which provide offers. The news papers and social network pages are fledged with it. In similar both the readings of the day and the life of St. Therese of Avila flaunt the offers given by the company Kingdom of God. Jesus without any back up of business trades the spiritual commodities of Faith, Hope and Love with five innovative, inspiring and igniting offers through the gospel passage, provided we buy his product “Word of God” and use it. They are the following

1. I will not leave you orphaned

2. I live so you also will live

3. Those who love me will be loved by my Father.

4. I will love them and reveal myself to them.

5. We will come to them and make our home with them.

As we celebrate the feast of St. Therese of Avila, she is the best epitome who had access to these offers, and those gobbled up her life as a Gospel. Fr. Biju Madathikunnel will underline the above thoughts through his words in the book Eliyanoi “The one who bears the fragrance of Christ is a miracle.” The name Therese comes from the Greek origin THERIZO which means harvest. I believe it’s just because she seized these offers her life was a harvest and the grains like spiritual reformation in the Carmelite Order, her writings and the Doctrinal status are stored in Jesus’ Interior Castle. Celebration of feast of Saints jostles us to examine our lives. As we are Carmelites, following the same spirituality of St. Therese of Avila, the questions before us are, have I become a harvest on Jesus’ field? Have I own the offers given by Christ? If I have owned am I a service provider to offer the same? Yes, is your answer, Christ will make you a partner of his company. If not, St. Paul through today’s epistle to Colossians Chapter 2 verse 3 will roost the scenario by saying.” Seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God, not on things that are on earth.”

Let us close our eyes for a while and pray, Lord our heavenly Father we thank you for giving this wonderful day and St. Therese of Avila as today’s heavenly Patron. God shower your grace to be owned by the offers you are bestowed for us. Lord, help us to be the harvest of Christian values and virtues which is cherished and nurtured by St. Therese of Avila Amen.

St, Therese of Avila – Pray for us

Jithin Kalan CMI