St Therese of Lisieux had a very realistic view of her own relationship to God. She was in awe of the great saints of old who flew with eagle’s wings into the light of God’s love, but felt that her contribution to the Kingdom was different. She described it as being in a garden. In the garden there were the flowers that caught the attention because of their height, their colour, their beauty.
But she saw herself as the small flower blooming faithfully in a shady corner, overlooked perhaps, but still a vital part of the garden, bringing its own beauty in humility and littleness. Therese would have known and probably cherished the passage in which Jesus calls our attention to the world around us, and asks us to “consider” the lilies, the flowers of the field. What he is asking us to do is not just think about them, but to look at them with loving attention. To see the colour. To feel the texture. To examine each petal and leaf. To take in the fragrance. To be caught up in its being. To recognise the wonder of its creation. To hold it in our thanks and to recognise that even the smallest b
loom is worthy of our attention.
So when Jesus suggests to us that we should consider the lilies, he is surely suggesting that that is also how he regards us. He considers us with loving attention to everything we are. He takes delight in his wonderful and unique creation, gently tracing the fine details of our being with his infinite love. He rejoices in what we can do for Him. However small that service may be, however insignificant it may seem to us, Jesus holds it in honour. He takes delight in our discipleship, and so should we, knowing that at each and every moment of our lives, Jesus prays in us with his loving attention.
Fr Stephen Hoy – Diocesan Spirituality Advisor and Parish Priest of St John the Baptist, Lincoln.
Year of Discipleship 2015 