Homily: October 15 - St. Teresa of Jesus - "All things are passing away"

Today the Church honors a great Carmelite mystic, Theresa of Avila, who started a reform of the Carmelite sisters and friars in the 16^th century.

When she was 20, she entered the convent, and what she found there saddened her; for the convent was not too different from her life in the world.  She felt called to recover the true contemplative spirit of the Carmelites, and so she initiated a reform of both the female, and with the help of St. John of the Cross, the male Carmelites.  Because she lived in strict poverty in contrast to their more worldly peers, they were known as discalced, or shoeless Carmelites. 

Both Theresa of the Little Flower and Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta are named after this holy woman. 

Theresa of Avila left us many wonderful spiritual writings, which led Pope Paul VI to declare her a doctor of the Church in 1970.  Her book, The Interior Castle describes the soul’s growth in holiness as it grows in contemplative prayer, but I’d like to share with you a passage that Teresa wrote on a bookmark that she used.

Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices.

So simple, yet, like many simple things, so profound. 

It is a reminder that everything in this life including our own physical life will change, that ultimately, we will surrender everything, our possessions, our health, will all slip away.  So nothing need disturb us as long as we are clinging to God.

We waste so much time worrying about things we cannot change.  Our peace of mind comes from realizing that God alone matters.  Therefore, time devoted to prayer in which we seek the face of God is not wasted.  Time worrying, and fretting however is.  In prayer, we surrender our life, and learn to love God as the path of life unfolds. 

St. Teresa teaches us that the true reformer first reforms themselves, and to seek God ardently by detaching ourselves from luxury and material possession, through simplicity, penance, and prayer. 

May St. Teresa help us to love and imitate Christ in all things, and to strive for Christian perfection for the glory of God and salvation of souls.