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Contemplating today's Gospel

Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)

October 15th: Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
1st Reading (Sir ):
Responsorial Psalm:
R/.
Versicle before the Gospel (Sir ):
Gospel text (Mt 11:25-30): At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

“You have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike”

Fr. Ferran JARABO i Carbonell (Agullana, Girona, Spain)

Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint Teresa of Avila. The Gospel, proclaimed in the feast of this Doctor of the Church, recommends to us the naturalness of children, so that we can be entrusted in the Father's hands: “Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike” (Mt 11:25). Jesus had said about children: “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Mt 19:14). To be like children does not imply to remain in a sort of permanent psychological infantilism. A child lets his father most willingly guide him. With each new step a child discovers new things his parents show him. Children take their first critical steps by holding their parents' loving hands. To abide by the Father's will is what we are asking each time we say the Lord's Prayer, and this is the fundamental characteristic of whoever wants to be like a child. “Who worried about you before you were born, would not worry about you once He gave you life? He who created you is also who supports you” (Saint Augustine). Everything is subject to God's providence.

God, our Father, never forsakes us. But, we can trust and put ourselves into God's hands. Today's Gospel invites us to trust him, who is always with us. Today, being confident and humble is not fashionable, but it certainly is the only way to reach God. Saint Teresa expressly confirms it: “I have seen clearly that it is by this door that we must enter if we wish his Sovereign Majesty to show us great secrets [Jesus' contemplation]. I want no other way (...). This way must be freely taken, by surrendering us to God's hands.”

Let us ask ourselves, especially today, how is our life: do we keep quiet to let God speak? Shall we pray abandoning ourselves in his hands? But to confide and be humble are two things we have to learn in the Church, our Mother! Do we humbly trust in her and love her?