He Calls But Will You Answer?

Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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

Job answered the LORD and said:

I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.
I have dealt with great things that I do not understand;
things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.
I had heard of you by word of mouth,
but now my eye has seen you.
Therefore I disown what I have said,
and repent in dust and ashes.

Thus the LORD blessed the latter days of Job
more than his earlier ones.
For he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels,
a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she-asses.
And he had seven sons and three daughters,
of whom he called the first Jemimah,
the second Keziah, and the third Kerenhappuch.
In all the land no other women were as beautiful
as the daughters of Job;
and their father gave them an inheritance
along with their brothers.
After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years;
and he saw his children, his grandchildren,
and even his great-grandchildren.
Then Job died, old and full of years.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130

R. (135) Lord, let your face shine on me.
Teach me wisdom and knowledge,
for in your commands I trust.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted,
that I may learn your statutes.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
I know, O LORD, that your ordinances are just,
and in your faithfulness you have afflicted me.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
According to your ordinances they still stand firm:
all things serve you.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may know your decrees.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.
The revelation of your words sheds light,
giving understanding to the simple.
R. Lord, let your face shine on me.

Gospel: Luke 10:17-24

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus,
“Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.
Behold, I have given you the power
‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions
and upon the full force of the enemy
and nothing will harm you.
Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you,
but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, 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 who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

Turning to the disciples in private he said,
“Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.
For I say to you,
many prophets and kings desired to see what you see,
but did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”

NAB

Growing up I loved J.R.R. Tolkien's classic works "The Hobbit" and his "Lord of the Ring" trilogy. There are many things to love about these books—the epic language, the adventures, the subtle yet striking wit, the triumph of Good over Evil, but to me one thing in particular always stood out: small people can save the world. It is not the towering giants of men, the statuesque elves or even the stocky dwarves to whom the triumph of Good over Evil is entrusted. The saviors of Middle Earth are "a little people" with "little to no magic about them" who lead uneventful lives filled with the families and neighbors, rarely ever venturing too far from home and having no need for grand adventures, thank you very much.

I don't know about you, but the older I get the more hobbit-like I become.

Tolkien picked his heroes out of the same stock that God chooses His saints. Today's feast day of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus along with the readings remind us that God calls and challenges the smallest of us, the ones who seem to be so unimportant or useless to do great things. It says He writes our names in Heaven, not our bank accounts, not our job titles, not the square footage of our homes—just our names.

He called Job by name who seemed so insignificant and so weak.

He called Saint Therese by name who was so little and unimportant.

He called all the disciples by name, not by rank or nationality, to go and do great work in His name.

He calls each of us by name to great things if only we'd listen; if only we'd stop say "No, God you can't mean me" or "No, God I'm not important enough."

He is calling each of us to greatness in Him. He has shown us time and time again that the "smallest person can change the course of the future" and that the least important, the least significant among us can be the life-changers and the world-savers. So one question remains—will you answer His call today?

One question remains—will you answer the Lord's call today?Click to tweet

He is calling each of us to greatness in Him.

photo credit

Molly Walter is a Catholic convert, wife and mother to one crazy five year old, a new baby girl and four saints in heaven. She uses her degree in Theatre more as mother than she did while in the business. She enjoys reading, knitting, and rescuing third class relics from Goodwill. Find out more about her here.