This Sunday is the first day of Novena to St Therese, so for my my homily will be first day of Novena to Therese , based on Sunday reading

Jesus tells us in the Gospel ‘ If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last and servant of all. Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting His arms around it, He said ‘ Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receive me.’ 

St James tells us ‘ you do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.’

St Therese you posses the wisdom of God ‘ which is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruit.’ Holy Spirit, St Therese I don’t always know what is good for me, But You Jesus gave my heart it’s deepest desires and hopes. Holy Spirit St Therese I give you permission to purify my desires to give me what Jesus wants to give me in this Novena..

St Therese you tell us ‘ we never have to much confidence in the Good Lord, who is so powerful and merciful. We obtain from Him as much as we hope to receive from Him. A lack of confidence offends Jesus and wounds His Heart. To put limits on our desires and our hopes means that we reject the infinite goodness of God.’ 

‘It is proper to divine love to lower itself, hence the lower we are the more we attract God.’ ..’The thing that pleases Jesus when He behold my soul, that I love my littleness and my poverty and have a blind trust in His Mercy.’

Jesus ‘as soon as He sees that we are convinced of our nothingness, He extends His hands to us… ‘ 

Jesus I desire with your help to be convinced of my nothingness and with complete trust in your mercy I ask for this intention….’    ‘

As you teach us ‘ He measures His Gifts according to the amount of our confidence He finds in us…..’I ascend to Jesus on the wings of ‘Confidence and Love.’ 

‘I assure you that the Good Lord is much kinder than you 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.’

Jesus as St Therese says, I take you by your weak side, your Heart, as I ask for this intention….’…’

Jesus I surrender myself to Your Love 

Jesus I surrender myself to your Mercy