Keeping Our Eyes on God
As autumn deepens across Canada and the Church commemorates St Teresa of Ávila, we are invited to reflect on how small disturbances can steal our peace and draw our gaze away from God.
Lessons from Today’s Gospel
In today’s Gospel from Luke, our Lord reproves the Pharisees for insisting on tithing mint and rue while neglecting the love of God. The example warns us that attention to detail is good only when it serves charity and humility. When the details become an end in themselves, we risk losing what matters most.
Imagine a freshly polished pair of boots. Someone steps on them and leaves a small scuff. If we allow that small mark to occupy our attention, we have become entangled in a knot that hides the larger vista God invites us to see.
The Danger of Petty Disturbances
These little irritations expose the deeper reality of self-love. They show how easily our eyes, which ought to look toward God and toward our neighbour for God’s sake, become fixed on minor injuries and petty annoyances. The soul tied up in such concerns forgets the panorama of God’s mercy and providence.
Practical Guidance
It is not wrong to care for order and goodness. We should polish our shoes and strive for excellence in daily duties. Yet those efforts must be carried out in peace, so that our work leads us to God rather than to restlessness or resentment.
Overcoming Our Weaknesses
All of us carry the effects of original sin and our own personal defects. With humility, patience, and frequent recourse to God in prayer, we can loosen the knots that bind us. St Teresa of Ávila teaches that interior freedom comes from detachment and a steady gaze fixed on the Lord.
A Prayer for Serenity
Today, ask St Teresa to help you notice when small things begin to disturb your peace. Offer a short prayer asking for the grace to keep your eyes on the great things God places before you.
May we learn to untangle ourselves gently, to restore serenity, and to walk with renewed attention to love of God and neighbour.
