In Matthew 18: 1-5 Jesus is asked one of the questions that we often hear echoed in our families, organisations, and in communities, ‘Who is the greatest?’ Jesus takes a little child and places in the midst of them as an example of greatness.
St. Teresa of Lisieux (1873 -1897), also called as St Teresa of Child Jesus, or simply called as the Little Flower, lived only for 24 years on this planet; he entered the Carmelite convent at the age of 15. Minusing the formation period, she hardly lived 9 years as a religious. As a religious she never held a big position, she did odd jobs like the sacristan; the highest post she ever held was one of an assistant novice mistresses.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta was first called Agnes. 1928 Agnes left home to join a convent in Ireland. 1929 She arrived in Calcutta, India, to join the missions. In 1931 Agnes became a nun (aged 18); and when she had to change her name, as it was the custom, she chose the name, Teresa. She was asked for the reason why she chose that name. She replied that it was not only because it was the name of the patron saint of missionaries, but also because “Teresa of Child Jesus did ordinary things with extraordinary love.” She did small things with the passion and involvement of a child.When Jesus said “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength (Mark 12: 30) Jesus was talking about passion, and extraordinary love. St Paul said, “put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters” (Colossians 3:23).
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