Among the joys and blessings of living in this day and age are the many options available to people. There are so many jobs available today that were unheard of when I was studying in college. Who would have thought that video games would be a multi-billion dollar industry? Think of all the many jobs this industry have spawned, created by kids who would not be kept away from their games. In the multicultural environment I find myself in, there are so many festivals to celebrate, so many different foods to savor, so many different languages and music my ears have to be attuned to. In this most beautiful and most cosmopolitan of all valleys, there are so many sights to enjoy, so many leisure activities to choose from, so many shows and events to watch and go to, so many sports activities to engage in, so many sporting events to be thrilled by.
These same options, however, often are the source of so many distractions. They tear at me and pull me in different directions. I get inspired and challenged by all these possibilities. There are so many things I want to do and accomplish. There are times I would end up not being able to do anything or being paralyzed into inaction by all these possibilities.
Jesus set his face to Jerusalem. He wouldn’t be distracted from doing the Father’s will. Even His own followers tried to dissuade Him and push Him into other directions, based on their own hidden agenda. But He would not be distracted. St. Therese of Lisieux, whose feast it is today, was similarly single-minded in her love for God and in doing the will of the Father. She did not do great things but she is a great saint. She never ventured far from where she was born and lived but she has had a deep influence that went far beyond her place and time. She spent her time doing small and simple things with great love and dedication. Minima maxime facere. To do the least of things in the best possible way.
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9, 51-56