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Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Reading 1 : Job 19:21-27

Job said:

Pity me, pity me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has struck me!
Why do you hound me as though you were divine,
and insatiably prey upon me?

Oh, would that my words were written down!
Would that they were inscribed in a record:
That with an iron chisel and with lead
they were cut in the rock forever!
But as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives,
and that he will at last stand forth upon the dust;
Whom I myself shall see:
my own eyes, not another’s, shall behold him,
And from my flesh I shall see God;
my inmost being is consumed with longing.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14

R. (13) I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Hear, O LORD, the sound of my call;
have pity on me, and answer me.
Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
Your presence, O LORD, I seek.
Hide not your face from me;
do not in anger repel your servant.
You are my helper: cast me not off.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

Alleluia : Mark 1:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Kingdom of God is at hand;
repent and believe in the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 10:1-12

Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples
whom he sent ahead of him in pairs
to every town and place he intended to visit.
He said to them,
“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.
Go on your way;
behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.
Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;
and greet no one along the way.
Into whatever house you enter, first say,
‘Peace to this household.’
If a peaceful person lives there,
your peace will rest on him;
but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,
for the laborer deserves his payment.
Do not move about from one house to another.
Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,
eat what is set before you,
cure the sick in it and say to them,
‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,
go out into the streets and say,
‘The dust of your town that clings to our feet,
even that we shake off against you.’
Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.
I tell you,
it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day
than for that town.”

Message from the Readings

Today’s readings proclaim a powerful truth:
Even in suffering, God is near — and every believer is sent to carry His peace into the world.
• Job teaches us unwavering hope in the midst of pain.
• The psalm reminds us to seek God’s face with courage.
• Jesus sends His disciples with simplicity, peace, and urgency.
The message is clear: Hope sustains us, God strengthens us, and we are called to be bearers of His Kingdom.

Reflection for the Day

Job’s words rise from deep anguish:
“Pity me… for the hand of God has struck me.”
Yet in the same breath, he proclaims:
“I know that my Redeemer lives.”
This is the mystery of faith: Suffering and hope can coexist. Pain does not silence trust. Darkness does not extinguish belief.
Job reminds us that faith is not the denial of suffering — faith is the refusal to let suffering define the final word.
Psalm 27 continues this theme:
• “Your face, Lord, I seek.”
• “Do not turn away from me.”
• “I believe I shall see the goodness of the Lord.”
This is the prayer of someone who has known fear yet chooses courage.
In the Gospel, Jesus sends out the seventy‑two with striking simplicity:
• No money bag
• No extra sandals
• No distractions
• Just peace, healing, and proclamation
The Kingdom of God is near — not distant, not delayed, not unreachable.
Jesus teaches that mission is not complicated. It begins with peace. It continues with compassion. It ends with the bold announcement that God is close.
Today’s readings invite us to three movements:

1. Hold onto hope even in hardship.
   Let Job’s declaration strengthen your heart.
2. Seek God’s face with courage.
   Trust that His goodness will be revealed.
3. Live your mission with simplicity and peace.
   Carry Christ’s presence wherever you go.
   Let today be a day of hope, courage, and peaceful witness.

 Prayer for Today

Lord Jesus, in moments of pain, teach me to echo Job’s hope: “My Redeemer lives.”
Strengthen my heart to seek Your face and trust Your goodness even when life feels heavy.
Send me, like the seventy‑two, to bring peace, to offer compassion, and to proclaim Your Kingdom with simplicity and love.
Walk with me today, and make my life a sign of Your nearness.
Amen.