Homily for the twenty sixth Tuesday 2024 (the feast of St Theresa Liseux)

Fr Agustinus Sutiono O.Carm

Difficulties, illnesses, sufferings and pains that come our lives seem to something common to everyone. Regardless of the age that we may have, whether we are child, adolescent, mature or elederly, they likely have touched everyone. The common reaction is always the same. Everyone tries to avoid them. When this prudent attempt is not successfull and they keep coming, we do not have other choice except accepting them. While we try to accostum ourself with things unwanted that we cannot avoid, we try to deal with them in many ways in order to keep ourself survive, for example, by seeking for psycological or legal or spiritual advices, undertaking series of medical treatments or therapies. Our experiences show that none is immune from difficulties, problems, illnesses, pains, sufferings. Neither are the righteous, the pious, the good, the virtuous and the most blessed persons. The bad, the naughty and the evil ones are the same. The virtuous and pious Job, the gentle and meek Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and many more saints, and even Jesus and his disciples are no exception.

However, the way how people face those challenges is not always the same. Job thought that he was so blessed that he had so much fortune, beautiful children and tremendous wealth. Then all were gone at a sudden. Even his last belonging, that was his health, was taken away too. He had drawn himself in a profound silence, pondering his very sins. His Friends advised him to quit from being pious and suggested him to curse God and shed his anger or disppointment to him. Some others faithfully accompanied him in his silence. After a long period of struggle he finally came to an understanding. He said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Saint Therese Liseux dealt with her own challenges. Illnesses, the loss of her beloved and other difficulties had turned her into a person with great humility and simplicity who showed a strong trust to the love and mercy of God.

The disciples and Jesus faced rejection from the people of Samaria. On their way to Jerusalem, his messengers entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this they asked: “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village. Both Jesus and the disciples experienced the same challenge but the way how they reacted to was different. The disciples tried to manipulate the power of Jesus to revenge and to cause destruction to the people of Samaria. But Jesus did not want to misused the power he had. O Lord, grant us a heart that is capable to understand your heart and your love in whatever situations we are going through. Grant us practical knowledge and wisdom that we can act and react wisely. Amen.

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