3rd Sunday of Advent 2025 - Joy in stillness

On the first Sunday of Advent, our Scripture readings urged us to be mindful of the need to prepare well during this holy season. On the Second Sunday, last week, we heard John the Baptist urge us to repent—to prepare for the Lord’s coming by turning away from our sins, detaching from worldly distractions, and making straight the pathways in our lives for God.

On this third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday—we are presented with images of joy—the joyful exultation of Israel as God’s promises are fulfilled, and the Lord pointing to the example of John the Baptist, who leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the drawing near of the savior. Jesus sends John’s disciples to tell the good news to John, now in prison, that the signs of the Messiah’s coming were now being fulfilled by Jesus. Even in prison, this would have brough John joy.

Joy, it is the deep longing of the human heart. Each one of us longs for joy. No one ever complained about having too much joy in their lives. Rather, the opposite is true, we tire of the joyless, and often jump from one pursuit to the next looking for that elusive joy. 

The brilliant Christian author, C.S. Lewis well-known for his “Chronicles of Narnia” books like “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” also wrote a sort of spiritual autobiography, in which he details his conversion to Christianity from Atheism—a book titled “Surprised by Joy”. In it, Lewis describes how every human being who has ever existed desires joy—we crave it; each of us are on an eternal quest for lasting joy.  Yet, joy, Lewis admits, is the most elusive of the virtues: we are all searching for it, but few seem to find enduring joy.  The authentically and fully joyful person is rare.  

Lewis explains that joy is often so elusive and hard to find because so many people are looking for joy “out there”—as if joy can be acquired if I just obtain the right object, or the right amount of cash in my bank account, in some earthly thing or activity or set of circumstances 

This is why our culture always seems so exhausted once Christmas is over. Our consumeristic, materialistic culture is convinced that joy can be purchased and found in material things like playstations, iphones, televisions, new wardrobes, and the like.

Lewis writes, “No, “Joy does not come from out there,” Lewis says, rather “Joy comes from in here.”  Joy comes into the heart when we are in right relationship with God—joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Only when the heart is firmly planted in Christ and doing the works of Christ, will the fruit of joy truly bloom.

Joy is most elusive, but there are a group of people who have discovered Joy. The saints! If you’ve ever met a truly holy person, they are filled with joy. The saints show us that joy is truly found in the Lord. They sing along with Psalm 16: “[Lord] you make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy.”

The saints also show us what is required to tend the soil of one’s heart so that joy may bloom. In the saints, we see that joy is cultivated primarily in two ways. 

Firstly, why are the saints so joyful? Because they have learned to live for others. They show us that joy is cultivated not through selfish accumulation, but by giving oneself away in service. Joy is not found in stuffing yourself to the gills day after day, but in feeding the hungry. Joy is not found with meticulously assembling the perfect wardrobe by keep up with the newest fashions, but by clothing the naked. Joy is not found in mindlessly doom scrolling on your phone and trying to convince people that you have the perfect life on social media, but disciplining and structuring your life around intentional generosity and self-sacrifice. They show us that the way of Christ—putting the teachings of Christ in practice, particularly those lessons of charity—is the pathway to joy.

So, firstly, the saints cultivate joy through self-sacrificial good works. Secondly, they show us the indispensability of prayer. And when I say prayer, I’m not just talking about rattling off an our father or hail mary once a day if you remember to do so, or saying grace before meals. Those prayers are important, however, the prayer of the saints is practice by quieting the mind and the soul, seeking God in the stillness of one’s soul. The saints practice prayer to such an extent that they learn to encounter the living God who makes His dwelling in the soul of the baptized. Prayer, for the saints becomes a living fountain of joy. 

This week in OCIA we talked about one of the great teachers of prayer, St. Theresa of Avila, the great Carmelite mystic and one of the four female doctors of the Church. Doctor, by the way, doesn’t mean that she was a medical doctor. The word ‘doctor’ means learned one—someone with something to teach. And the doctors of the Church are the ones learned in the faith and the spiritual life. St. Theresa of Avila is a doctor of the Church because what she has to teach us about prayer.

The doctor of prayer, St. Theresa wrote extensively on prayer and the spiritual life. Her masterpiece on prayer, called “The Interior Castle” was written for those who want to make serious progress in the spiritual life and the practice of prayer. Though it was written over 500 years ago, the language is easy to understand and quite accessible—you should check it out.

Throughout the chapters of her book, Theresa describes how the human soul is like a mansion. And as we enter deeper and deeper into the mansion of the soul, we come experience a purer and purer encounter with God. The journey through the inner mansion of the soul is transformative; we are changed as we grow nearer to God—we grow in joy, in purity of love and intension, detachment from sin, we grow in simplicity, and willingness to suffer for the sake of others. Growth in prayer, growth in holiness, brings growth in joy, as we grow nearer and nearer to God—the source of all joy.

The season of Advent, especially today, Gaudete Sunday, has this character, of seeking to enter more deeply into communion with God, seeking the joy and fullness of life that only He can bring, the joy that the soul longs for.

Throughout her writing, Theresa repeatedly emphasizes that it is not only we who long for God, but God who longs for us, and God desires union with each one of us. And that union doesn’t just begin when our earthly life comes to an end, Yes, we are meant for union with God in eternity, but that experience and growth in communion with God is to start now, in this earthly life—again through prayer, and the life of charity.

We will be happier, more joyful and fulfilled, when we make the inner journey, stripping away all that keeps us from that encounter with Christ, who draws near to us, and makes his dwelling among us, in our very souls. Gaudete in domino semper, rejoice in the Lord always. Dominus enim prope est. Indeed, the Lord is near. 

A week and a half now before Christmas, let us make good use of the time we have been given, to draw near to the Lord who has drawn near to us, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

October 15 2025 - St. Teresa of Avila - The pathway of prayer (school mass)

 Two weeks ago we celebrated the feast of the Carmelite nun, St. Therese of Lisieux. Recall how little Therese felt called by God to dedicate herself to a life of prayer and solitude—in the Carmelite monastery. Her day possessed a beautiful rhythm of prayer, meditation, quiet chores, meals, attendance at mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

The order of her day, the rhythm of her day, the spirituality of her life can be traced back to the saint we celebrate on the calendar today, another Teresa, St. Teresa of Avila, Avila being here birthplace in Spain who lived about 350 years before.

Teresa of Avila had a profound impact on the Carmelite way of life, which continues to this day. But she didn’t just have an impact on the Carmelites. St. Teresa of Avila is so influential to how Catholics understand prayer, that she is known as a doctor of the Church.

You see, Catholics don’t just pray. We don’t just learn our prayers—memorizing prayers like the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the act of contrition. Catholics love prayer so much that we study it. We write books about it so that we can do it better. We study the great mystics to understand how they prayed, so we can pray better and draw nearer to God—so that we can hear God better, and speak to God better, and experience God better.

And one of the most influential teacher of prayer, is today’s saint. If you want to become a master prayer—study St. Teresa of Avila. 

As a young nun, St. Teresa of Avila was rather lukewarm about prayer—meaning, she was neither hot, nor cold about prayer, she did it, but it wasn’t really that important to her. And, she had difficulties praying for any real period of time—especially when she had other things to do. 

But St. Teresa learned to quiet her mind, and quiet her heart, she began to connect with God on a profound level. In fact, she would become so absorbed in divine contemplation, her body would begin to levitate—she would float. And at times, she would become so filled with love for God in her prayer—that she felt that she would become swept away in the ocean of God’s love.

You see, St. Teresa didn’t just pray for things, like many of us. And that’s not a bad thing, we need to pray for the health of our families, and peace in our world. We need to pray for our loved ones who have died, and to grow in virtue and wisdom and the strength to carry our crosses. God hears and answers all those prayers in his own way.

But St. Teresa teaches us that God wants us to seek him in prayer. Quiet prayer, patient prayer, in which we come to understand and experience, that when we possess that profound relationship with God, you possess everything you need. For the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

October 15 2024 - St. Teresa of Avila - Reforming the heart through prayer

 Today we celebrate the Feast of Theresa of Avila, virgin, and doctor of the Church. Together with St. John of the Cross, she labored to reform the Carmelite order which had grown worldly and lukewarm in the 16th century. And yet, before undertaking the work of reforming the Carmelite order, she first worked to reform herself.  

For many years, after her religious consecration she was herself was lukewarm about prayer. She had difficulty committing her mind and heart to prayer, especially when prayer felt so dry and arid. 

But as she learned to quiet her mind, and quiet her heart, she grew in prayer, and would become absorbed in deep contemplation. In fact, she would occasionally become so absorbed in divine contemplation, her body would spontaneously levitate. And at times, she would become so overwhelmed with divine love, it felt like the illumining grace of God would wash her soul away. 

Most of us are far from surrendering so deeply to God in prayer, but Theresa offers a wonderful starting point in the following prayer. She writes:

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 so many simple things, so profound. It is a reminder that everything in this life including our own physical life will change, that ultimately, all things--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, but true peace is discovered when we allow ourselves to experience the truth that God alone suffices. Unlike time devoted to worrying and fretting, time devoted to prayer in which we seek the face of God is never wasted.  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 worldly anxieties through simplicity, penance, and prayer.  

May St. Teresa help us to be set aflame with the longing for true holiness, and to strive for the Christian perfection for which we were made, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For Pope Francis and all Church leaders, that they may lead the faithful in seeking and growing in authentic Christian holiness. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our world, often caught up in materialism and instant gratification, that it may discover the value of patience and the sufficiency of God's love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the Carmelites and all religious orders and communities, that they may remain faithful to their charisms and be beacons of God's love in the world. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who feel spiritually dry or distant from God, that they may persevere in prayer and experience the transforming power of divine love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all of us gathered here, that we may learn to detach ourselves from worldly concerns and trust more fully in God's providence. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those burdened by anxiety and fear, and for all those suffering from mental illness, addiction, or any type of illness: that the grace of Christ may console and strengthen them. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

October 15 2019 - St. Teresa in Ecstasy

One of my favorite works of art is located in the corner chapel of the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. I remember walking miles through the rain the first time I visited Rome to see this sculpture of St. Teresa in Ecstasy in carved white marble by the famous Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The sculpture depicts Theresa, garbed in her flowing Carmelite habit, reclined on a cloud. Over her, a joy-filled angel holds a golden arrow ready to pierce her heart with Divine Love.

Bernini drew his inspiration for this sculpture from the amazing life of this saint.

For many years, Teresa had difficulty sitting through her prayers. It was after meditating deeply upon an image of the Passion of Jesus scourged, bound, and crowned with thorns standing before a hostile crowd that she resolved to dedicate herself seriously to the practice of prayer.

As she grew in prayer, her love for the Lord deepened. She would become absorbed in deep contemplation and would become so filled with divine love that her body would spontaneously levitate—hence Bernini depicting Teresa floating on a cloud. She would feel overwhelmed by love and the experience of the illuminating grace of God washing through her soul.

Her profound book, The Interior Castle, describes the Christian souls journey to union with God.

Forty years after her death, she was Canonized by Pope Gregory XV.  And, in 1970, Pope Paul VI bestowed upon her the title “Doctor of the Church” along with Saint Catherine of Siena making them the first women to receive this distinction. She well deserves the title the Doctor of Prayer, as she describes how the Lord invites each of us to abandonment to the Divine Will through prayer.

Fr. Thomas Dubay wrote a wonderful account of Teresa’s contributions to our understanding of prayer, called The Fire Within.  He writes, “Genuine prayer, does not happen without effort.  Depth of communion with the indwelling Trinity occurs only in a person intent on living the Gospel totally, one who is humble and patient, temperate and obedient, pure and kind, free of selfish clinging.  It is not accidental that our very best explanations of contemplative prayer have their origin in men and women of marvelous sanctity.”

Let us allow this great Doctor of the Church to teach us how to pray, how to open ourselves to the love God has for each of us, to contemplate the indwelling presence of the Trinity, that we may be united to God in all of our activities and relationships for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may seek to grow in holiness through prayer and penance.

For an increase in vocations, and for the spiritual welfare of the Carmelite Order.

For those who have fallen into error, for Catholics who have grown lukewarm in their faith, for those who have left the Church, for their conversion and the conversion of all hearts.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October, “that the breath of the Holy Spirit may engender a new missionary ‘spring’ in the Church.

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased priests and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.