In today’s gospel, we see Jesus rejoice at the things revealed to the childlike. This is a prefect opening to share some thoughts on St. Therese of the child Jesus. It’s quite amazing. She wrote 1 book, and 8 of the 11 chapters were about her life growing up in the Martin family. She only wrote 3 chapters that involved the doctrine of her little way, and yet she’s a doctor of the Church. Every time I read her, or writings about her, I get more and more amazed at her insights.

Many people speak of the difficulty of becoming a saint. Therese said it’s easy.  When St. John of the Cross, who is in many ways the spiritual father of the Discalced Carmelites, wrote his books like “The Ascent of Mount Carmel” and the others, it was clear that he wanted to run straight up the mountain. He says this – that his way is the short, straight way up the mountain. St. Therese also wanted a short, straight way up the mountain, so she looked for a ski lift.

And she found it in the arms of Jesus. Here is one excerpt on the spiritual climb.

“Practice all the virtues and so always lift up your little foot to mount the ladder of holiness, but do not imagine that you will be able to ascend even the first step. No! the good Lord does not demand more from you than good will. From the top of the stairs, He looks at you with love. Very soon, won over by your useless efforts, He will come down and take you in Him arms. He will carry you up. But if you stop lifting your little foot, He will leave you a long time on the ground.”

I know exactly what she’s talking about. I know what it is to be lifted up by Jesus, and I know what it is to be left on the ground because I gave up lifting my little foot. The message here is never give up. And St. Therese is so encouraging, even with all our failures. Here’s what she wrote to her sister.

I assure you that the good Lord is much kinder than you can imagine. He is satisfied with a glance, with a sigh of love … In regard to myself, I find it easy to practice perfection, because I have learned that the way to Jesus is through His Heart. Consider a small child who has vexed his mother by a display of bad temper or disobedience. If the child hides in a corner through fear of punishment, he feels that his mother will not forgive him. But if instead, he extends his little arms towards her and with a smile crise out: ‘Love, kiss me mamma, I will not do it again,’ will not his mother press the little one to her heart with tenderness, and forget what the child has done? And yet, through she knows very well that her dear little one will misbehave again at the first opportunity, that means nothing if the child appeals to her heart. He will never be punished…” p. 54.

So, never give up. Saints were sinners who didn’t give up. Always turn to Jesus with genuine sorrow for our falls. Appeal to his heart like St. Therese did and He will never forsake us.