I will seek out a means of getting to Heaven by a little way – very short and very straight little way .

Thine Arms, then, O Jesus, are the lift which must raise me up even unto Heaven.

To get there I need not grow. On the contrary, I must remain little, I must become still less.

                                                                                                 ~~~   Therese of the Child Jesus    ~~~

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17

 This was the answer

 Job gave to Yahweh:  I know that you are all powerful; no plan of yours can be thwart­ed. I spoke of things I did not understand, too wonderful for me to know.  My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.

 Therefore I retract all I have said, and in dust and ashes I repent.  Yahweh blessed Job’s latter days much more than his earlier ones. He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-donkeys.  He was also blessed with seven sons and three daughters.  

The first daughter he named Dove, the second Cinnamon, and the third Bottle of Perfume.  Nowhere in the land was there found any woman who could compare in beauty with Job’s daughters. Their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.   He died old and full of years.

  

Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130

 Lord, let your face shine on me.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊  

Luke 10:17-24

 The seventy-two disciples returned full of joy. They said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed us when we called on your name.” Then Jesus replied, “I saw ­Satan fall like lightning from heaven.

 You see, I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the Enemy, so that nothing will harm you.  Nevertheless, don’t rejoice because the evil spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.”

At that time Jesus was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and made them known to the little ones.

  Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. I have been given all things by my Father, so that no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and he to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said to them privately, “Fortunate are you to see what you see,   for I tell you that many prophets and kings would have liked to see what you see but did not, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

 Gospel Reflection：

Working from Home

Here is a woman who lived hardly 24 years and never left the cloister once she entered the convent, but is recognized by the Church as the patroness of the missions. The life of St.

Therese of the Child Jesus memory we honor today, teaches us several truths: (i) that the missionary mandate is integral to the call of every Christian; (ii) that one can do missionary work in the given contest of one’s life by evangelizing those around and by incessant prayer; (iii) that ardent desire for bringing souls to the knowledge and love of God and unceasing prayer for souls are key to doing missions.

I once heard of a retired woman whose chosen ministry was to read the newspaper every day and say a prayer for every person mentioned therein. Isn’t it an incredible example of “ working from home” when it comes to doing mission?