30 September 2013 - flower power

30 September 2013 - flower power

Note: Sorry to start talking about Therese of Lisieux a day early when we have a really great saint like Jerome today.  The readings lend themselves more toward the Little Flower.  But let us ask St. Jerome to intercede for the rebuilding of the Church. through the rediscovery of the word of God.

An argument arose among the disciples
about which of them was the greatest. 

Do we follow Jesus because of self-image?  It might not be obvious but this sort of motivation always taints our discipleship.  When our weakness becomes evident and when we fall, do we regret the hurt we do to God or do we really regret that we are revealed as imperfect?  This is part of the secret which Therese of Lisieux reveals when she says, "How happy I am to see myself imperfect and be in need of God's mercy."  Most of us either aren't striving for holiness or can't tolerate our failures.  But are we secretly competing to be the greatest?

For this reason Jesus reveals the little child as the model of kingdom greatness.  One does not compete for this kind of greatness.  The littleness, dependence, and self-forgetfulness of children is not something that one can easily make competitive.  Yet we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless we let go of our pride and become like children (cf. Mat 18:3).

“Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name 
and we tried to prevent him
because he does not follow in our company.”

In this case the concern of the disciples is not to preserve the unity of the Church or the integrity of her teaching.  Their concern is that they themselves are excluded.  Their pride wants the credit for these legitimate miracles.  They can't bear to see them performed without getting the credit.  But the LORD often works outside of the boundaries he himself establishes to bring blessings to his people.  And it is a shame to see "someone casting out demons" and to not rejoice.  This reveals that we not living the spiritual childhood to which we are called.

When we realize just how far from childhood we are we may be tempted to despair.  We come to think that our cynical and prideful adulthood is something that cannot be undone.

Even if this should seem impossible
in the eyes of the remnant of this people,
shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also,
says the LORD of hosts?

The LORD rebuilds the city of Zion from the living stones of the people of God (1 Pet. 2:4).  He will therefore heal our hearts by bringing us into his presence, making us fit dwelling places for him.

When the LORD has rebuilt Zion
and appeared in his glory;
When he has regarded the prayer of the destitute,
and not despised their prayer.

The Lord will build up Zion again, 
and appear in all his glory.

Let us heed the advise of Therese of Lisieux to remain "little before God" knowing that:

“The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily
do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm.
If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”