Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
(Romans
2:1-11: Luke 11:42-46)
In her
reform of Carmelite nuns, St. Teresa of Ávila had her critics. She understood the need to return to basics. The
sisters were living under such relaxed conditions and with such intrusions from
the outside that the monastery was hardly monastic at all. But some sisters preferred the status quo and
denounced her to the Inquisition. Nevertheless, the reform started in her own
convent and then spread to others.
Teresa’s
trajectory parallels Jesus in the gospel.
He too led a reform of Pharisaical Judaism. He criticizes the Pharisees for faking a
positive impression while they overburden the poor. He calls the Pharisees “like unseen graves”
because they appear as firm ground that could be trusted. But in truth they are more like a plot of earth
with a corpse buried beneath that will eventually give way to despoil those who
step on it. The Pharisees, of course, could not tolerate such criticism.
Jesus’
critique of the Pharisees may be extended to some clergy today. Priests must take care that they not only
teach sound doctrine but that they also give example of true holiness. Like Jesus, they should advise those who
transgress God’s will to reform their lives.
Even more important, priests should exhibit true expression of love for
God by devotion to prayer and kindness to all.
