In our own reflection of the word, we invite God into our hearts and souls

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings for the Memorial of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor of the church, by Father Perry.

+ St. Therese is a beloved saint and made her mark on the church.

I am not sure these readings today express her very well, except that as a nun she would have had the daily discipline of the examen or the daily “examination of conscience.”

In a nutshell, it was the practice of “coming clean” with oneself and with God. It was saying to God and to self: “I have sinned and I am sorry and I repent and want to do and be better.”

The Jews had this practice, and today’s first reading is a glorified example of it.

And when done, well, people were truly moved to repentance and a change of heart — growth!

+ Interestingly, the psalm highlights the intrusion into the temple and into Jerusalem with defaming and defiling behavior; and one of the most ugly was to prevent the burying of the dead (a very devout and loving practice to honor and respect the dead), and leaving their corpses to be eaten by animals and their blood to run wild in the streets.

To be sure, the Jews in Baruch are “owning their past sins” and they are definitely “coming clean with themselves and one another and with God.”

Obviously, they felt, a punishment for their sins; indeed, a good start.

+ But Jesus, once again, notes there are those who will not “come clean” nor open themselves to the kingdom of God in their midst and will continue in their ungodly ways.

No repentance! No sack cloth and ashes! No turning away from sin and renewing their relationship with God and walking in the ways of God!

+ Jesus invites. Jesus encourages. Jesus shows the way. And Jesus acknowledges that some will reject him and he who sent him.

+ And in our reflection on the word today, we hear through it another invitation to go deeper with the Lord, deeper with the word, and deeper into our metanoia (conversion) experiences so that the kingdom of God — so rich and so blessed — will fill us and bring that life that is God into our hearts and souls!