October 15, 2021

Today, in God’s Lavish Mercy, on this feast of the great St. Teresa of Ávila, we pray with Psalm 32:

You are my shelter; you guard me from distress;
with joyful shouts of deliverance you surround me.

Psalm 32:7

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We have all experienced these types of moments when we feel “delivered”.

• We might have been praying for someone’s health, or our own.
• We might have been caught in a difficult decision.
• We might have been waiting for an acceptance letter or call.
• We might have been hoping our apology would be accepted, or that one would be given.
• We might have been aching for an inspiration, a thread of hope, or a new understanding.

And then —- Light!

We know what it feels like when the Light comes. But often, it is not the light we had expected. True “deliverance” comes not from shedding a worrisome circumstance. Instead, it comes from being incorporated into an unshakable faith and trust, as St. Teresa of Ávila describes it:

May today there be peace within. 
May you trust God that
you are exactly where you are meant to be. 
May you not forget
the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. 
May you use those gifts that you have received,
and pass on the love that has been given to you. 
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. 
Let this presence settle into your bones,
and allow your soul the freedom
to sing, dance, praise and love. 
It is there for each and every one of us.

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Poem: Nada Te Turbe – Teresa of Ávila

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Music: Two beautiful selections today

1. Voice in My Heart – Iris Koh

2. A reflection in Spanish from the Discalced Carmelite Sisters