Sunday, 11 November 2012
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Martin of Tours, Bishop († 397) - Memorial
Commentary of the day
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus : "She has contributed all she had"
Reading
Mk 12:38-44.
In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Autobiographical manuscript B, 1 r°-v°
"She has contributed all she had"
“I want to make you read in the book of life, wherein is contained the
science of Love.” The science of Love, ah, yes, this word resounds sweetly
in the ear of my soul, and I desire only this science. Having given all my
riches for it, I esteem it as having given nothing as did the bride in the
sacred Canticle [of Canticles] (Sg 8,7). I understand so well that it is
only love which makes us acceptable to God that this love is the only good
I ambition. Jesus deigned to show me the road that leads to this Divine
Furnace, and this road is the surrender of the little child who sleeps
without fear in its Father's arms. "Whoever is a little one, let him come
to me." So speaks the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Solomon (Prv 9,4).
This same Spirit of Love also says: "For to him that is little, mercy will
be shown." (Wsd 6,6). The Prophet Isaiah reveals in his name that on the
last day: "God shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather
together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom." (Is
40,11)... Ah! if all weak and imperfect souls felt what the least of souls
feels, that is, the soul of your little Therese, not one would despair of
reaching the summit of the mount of love. Jesus does not demand great
actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude. Has he not said in
Psalm 49: "I will not take the he-goats from out your flocks, for all the
beasts of the forest are mine, the cattle on the hills and the oxen...
Offer to God the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving”. See, then, all
that Jesus lays claim to form us; he has no need of our works but only of
our love. For the same God who declares he has no need to tell us when he
is hungry (Ps 49[50]) did not fear to beg for a little water from the
Samaritan woman. He was thirsty... He was thirsty for love. Ah, I feel it
more than ever before, Jesus is parched. For he meets only the ungrateful
and indifferent among his disciples in the world. And among his own
disciples, alas, he finds few hearts who surrender to him without
reservations, who understand the real tenderness of his infinite love.
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
St. Martin of Tours, Bishop († 397) - Memorial
Commentary of the day
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus : "She has contributed all she had"
Reading
Mk 12:38-44.
In the course of his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation."
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."
Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
Commentary of the day
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1873-1897), Carmelite, Doctor of the Church
Autobiographical manuscript B, 1 r°-v°
"She has contributed all she had"
“I want to make you read in the book of life, wherein is contained the
science of Love.” The science of Love, ah, yes, this word resounds sweetly
in the ear of my soul, and I desire only this science. Having given all my
riches for it, I esteem it as having given nothing as did the bride in the
sacred Canticle [of Canticles] (Sg 8,7). I understand so well that it is
only love which makes us acceptable to God that this love is the only good
I ambition. Jesus deigned to show me the road that leads to this Divine
Furnace, and this road is the surrender of the little child who sleeps
without fear in its Father's arms. "Whoever is a little one, let him come
to me." So speaks the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Solomon (Prv 9,4).
This same Spirit of Love also says: "For to him that is little, mercy will
be shown." (Wsd 6,6). The Prophet Isaiah reveals in his name that on the
last day: "God shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather
together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom." (Is
40,11)... Ah! if all weak and imperfect souls felt what the least of souls
feels, that is, the soul of your little Therese, not one would despair of
reaching the summit of the mount of love. Jesus does not demand great
actions from us but simply surrender and gratitude. Has he not said in
Psalm 49: "I will not take the he-goats from out your flocks, for all the
beasts of the forest are mine, the cattle on the hills and the oxen...
Offer to God the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving”. See, then, all
that Jesus lays claim to form us; he has no need of our works but only of
our love. For the same God who declares he has no need to tell us when he
is hungry (Ps 49[50]) did not fear to beg for a little water from the
Samaritan woman. He was thirsty... He was thirsty for love. Ah, I feel it
more than ever before, Jesus is parched. For he meets only the ungrateful
and indifferent among his disciples in the world. And among his own
disciples, alas, he finds few hearts who surrender to him without
reservations, who understand the real tenderness of his infinite love.
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