The last line of this Sunday’s Gospel reads, “…rejoice because your names are written in Heaven.”  This jogs my memory of a painting I saw once at the shrine of St. Therese in Darien, Illinois.  The scene was of little Therese walking home with her beloved father one evening, and upon looking up at the stars shining in the sky, she saw that the stars formed a letter “T.”  With the excitement that only children can remind us of, she quickly informed her father that her name was written in Heaven.

Ah, the simplicity and the excitement deeply rooted in the faith of children!  That painted scene of Therese and her father moved me.  I welled up with tears each time I was drawn to return to glance at that painting that day.  The theme of joy and rejoicing in this Sunday’s readings are, I think, one more subtle way of God the Father inviting us, His beloved children, to become more like children and return to Him.  Children so innocently teach us adults the wonder and excitement we ought to have for the Heavenly things.

I’ve heard it said that at Christmas time, the kid in all of us comes out (at least a little!)  We can find ourselves excited over great spiritual gifts, like celebrating Jesus’ birthday, like participating in the Sacraments of our loved ones, like embarking on a beautiful pilgrimage.  As I was recently in Rome during this Holy Jubilee Year of Hope, I found myself as a child full of wonder and awe, a blessed and beloved child, a daughter of our Heavenly Father, fortunate to stand in the midst of the Heart of Holy Mother Church, and among the relics of so many Saints.  The Holy Jubilee Doors were flung open wide in each of the four Major Basilicas, offering welcome and hospitality to their excited and weary pilgrims.  There was no shaking off of the dust of this town from our feet!  We were rejoicing…we were beloved children…we were at home!

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Reflection by Sr. Maria-Vianney, OP

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