Have you ever noticed how much we like to build memorials and put up signs honoring people?
We put up monuments, dedicate buildings, and preserve the memories of those who have gone before us.
And, there’s something good about honoring those who made a difference in our lives and those who came before us.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges the scribes and scholars of the law, when He says, “You build the memorials of the prophets whom your fathers killed.”
The problem isn’t the memorials themselves, but it’s the contradiction between honoring the prophets of the past while rejecting God’s message in the present. The scribes and scholars ancestors refused to listen to God’s messengers, and now Jesus confronts a similar attitude in their own hearts.
It is relatively easy to honor holy people who lived long ago. We celebrate saints’ feast days and build churches in their honor.
But the real question is: Are we willing to listen to what God asks of us today, just like the saints did?
Today we celebrate St. Teresa of Jesus, also known as St. Teresa of Ávila, a great Carmelite reformer and Doctor of the Church.
She reminds us that knowing God means more than learning about Him; it means growing in a personal relationship with God through prayer. We honor the saints most fruitfully when we imitate their faith and commitment to Christ.
Later, Jesus then declares, “You have taken away the key of knowledge.” Religious leaders were supposed to help people understand God’s Word and draw closer to Him.
Instead, their attitudes created obstacles, making it harder for people to encounter God.
If we think about it, we too, can take away this key when we judge others harshly, when we allow pride to prevent us from listening, or make it harder for others to encounter Christ.
As Father Peyton always preached, our families have a special role in helping one another grow in faith. Parents, spouses, children, and brothers and sisters all can encourage one another through prayer, patience, forgiveness, and good example of being Christ-like.
And, when a family member is struggling, we can listen without judging and gently help that person find a way back to God and solutions to the problems they face.
The choice is ours, whether we are obstacles to one another’s faith or help each other grow closer to Christ.
As Catholics, we are blessed with Scripture, the sacraments, the Church’s teachings, and the example of the saints. These gifts lead us into a deeper relationship with Christ.
So let us ask ourselves: Am I simply honoring the faith of others similar to placing a memorial or sign or am I sincerely living that faith? And, am I helping my family to discover Christ?
My brothers and sisters may the Lord, through the intercession of St. Teresa, give us humble hearts and the courage to welcome His truth.
May our homes nurture faith, offer forgiveness, and help every family member grow closer to Christ; living the counsel of St. Teresa when she said, “Accustom yourself continually to make many acts of love, for they enkindle the heart and melt the soul.”