The Feast of St Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor of the Church.

“Leave it all to God and leave your interests in His hands. He knows what is fitting for us…” (St Teresa of Avila).

"Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before others the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever denies me before others will be denied before the angels of God.

“Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

"When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (Luke 12: 8 - 12).

Saturday 15th October 2022 of the 28th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of a great woman: St Teresa of Jesus, popularly known as St Teresa of Avila. (1515 - 1582). Spanish Carmelite and great Reformer and Mystic. She was a great spiritual writer. She is one of the four women to be proclaimed Doctor of the Church.

The teaching of Teresa aims at bringing you to Jesus. She wants you to know Jesus more, so that you can love Him and serve Him more. Teresa cares deeply about Prayer as a means of union with God. Teresa and other Doctors of the Church are very interested in your eternal destiny. The academic doctors of theology are often speculative with little explicit intention to evangelize and catechize.

Jesus concludes today's Gospel with a masterpiece promise:
"When they take you before synagogues and before rulers and authorities, do not worry about how or what your defense will be or about what you are to say.  For the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you should say.” (Luke 12: 11 - 12).

My personal favorite title for the Holy Spirit is "The Voice that Speaks in Court."  This is because of my experience of the fulfillment of this promise. The Holy Spirit has enabled me to speak with wisdom and courage when I was in a tight corner and needed these gifts most.

Here is one of the great maxims of St Teresa of Avila.

"Let nothing trouble you,
let nothing frighten you.
All things are passing;
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
He who possesses God lacks nothing: God alone suffices."  (St Teresa of Avila).

10. 15  "Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, pray for us."

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com