The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today, Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, offer a glimpse at the Way of Life that siblings of Jesus are called to embrace.
The Reading from the Book of Job proclaims the background to Job seeking a future vindicator.
* [19:23–24] What Job is about to say is so important that he wants it recorded in a permanent manner.
* [19:25–27] The meaning of this passage is obscure because the original text has been poorly preserved and the ancient versions do not agree among themselves. Job asserts three times that he shall see a future vindicator (Hebrew goel), but he leaves the time and manner of this vindication undefined. The Vulgate translation has Job indicating a belief in resurrection after death, but the Hebrew and the other ancient versions are less specific. (Job, BOOK of JOB | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 27 proclaims “I believe” echoing “I trust” .
* [Psalm 27] Tradition has handed down the two sections of the Psalm (Ps 27:1–6; 7–14) as one Psalm, though each part could be understood as complete in itself… In part B there is a clear shift in tone (Ps 27:7–12); the climax of the poem comes with “I believe” (Ps 27:13), echoing “I trust” (Ps 27:3).
* [27:13] In the land of the living: or “in the land of life,” an epithet of the Jerusalem Temple (Ps 52:7; 116:9; Is 38:11), where the faithful had access to the life-giving presence of God. (Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus prepares the Mission of the Seventy-two.
* [10:1–12] Only the Gospel of Luke contains two episodes in which Jesus sends out his followers on a mission: the first (Lk 9:1–6) is based on the mission in Mk 6:6b–13 and recounts the sending out of the Twelve; here in Lk 10:1–12 a similar report based on Q becomes the sending out of seventy-two in this gospel. The episode continues the theme of Jesus preparing witnesses to himself and his ministry. These witnesses include not only the Twelve but also the seventy-two who may represent the Christian mission in Luke’s own day. Note that the instructions given to the Twelve and to the seventy-two are similar and that what is said to the seventy-two in Lk 10:4 is directed to the Twelve in Lk 22:35.
* [10:1] Seventy[-two]: important representatives of the Alexandrian and Caesarean text types read “seventy,” while other important Alexandrian texts and Western readings have “seventy-two.”
* [10:4] Carry no money bag…greet no one along the way: because of the urgency of the mission and the singlemindedness required of missionaries, attachment to material possessions should be avoided and even customary greetings should not distract from the fulfillment of the task.
* [10:5] First say, ‘Peace to this household’: see notes on Lk 2:14 and Mt 10:13.
* [10:6] A peaceful person: literally, “a son of peace.” (Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB, n.d.)
Edward Morse comments that great and weighty trials may not be a regular feature of our daily sphere of action. But consider today’s memorial saint – Therese of the Child Jesus – whose embrace of the “little way” shows how devotion in the seemingly mundane is of great importance to the kingdom of God. Mothers (like my dear wife) who must deal with daily household chores, the needs of small children (and grandchildren), and the supportive care of others show stoutheartedness in their tender care.
Stoutheartedness grows through challenges that stretch us beyond our comfort zones. As we ponder the stouthearted way, let us consider how to move beyond our trust in the familiar (our resources, proven skills, and talents) toward greater reliance on the Lord’s goodness and character. He is sending us to bring the love and power of Christ into a world full of naysayers and doubters – just as someone else did for us. That could be a missionary journey, or it could be right in your workplace or even your family home. Remember that our Vindicator is always nearby, ready to raise us up to stand together with Him, even in the midst of the dust. Thanks be to God. (Morse, 2026)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus the Good Shepherd changes wolves into sheep”, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD)
"How then does [Jesus] command the holy apostles, who are innocent men and 'sheep,' to seek the company of wolves, and go to them of their own will? Is not the danger apparent? Are they not set up as ready prey for their attacks? How can a sheep prevail over a wolf? How can one so peaceful conquer the savageness of beasts of prey? 'Yes,' he says, 'for they all have me as their Shepherd: small and great, people and princes, teachers and students. I will be with you, help you, and deliver you from all evil. I will tame the savage beasts. I will change wolves into sheep, and I will make the persecutors become the helpers of the persecuted. I will make those who wrong my ministers to be sharers in their pious designs. I make and unmake all things, and nothing can resist my will.'" (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 61) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winker comments on the texts for today. Job cries out for pity declaring the hand of God has struck him. But friends connect his misfortune to sin and they become his tormentors. Job wants to indicate he is unfairly injured. He seeks a vindicator (Hebrew goel) who is a person to help in your distress and need. Job is seeking God in the flesh, unlike the idea of Sheol. Job declares a resurrection of the dead. That is an idea initially expressed after the Exile. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus appoints 72 as disciples based on the 72 elders in the Hebrew Testament chosen to assist Moses Jesus exhorts them to Trust in Providence. God will take care of them. They are instructed to depend on the hospitality of those who welcome them, people who are doing good things. Friar Jude notes that Rejection of the Kingdom is a decision to exist outside the Kingdom. We get what we ask for when we sin: loneliness, alienation, this is the worst consequence.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14 comments that when we go through trials and sufferings, it’s often wise to ask what we could do differently. For example, a health crisis might prompt us to take better care of our bodies, or a strained relationship might lead us to be more patient with our loved ones. But there are some trials that can’t be resolved by new resolutions. In a special way, these challenges invite us to lean on the Lord more fully.
Just as Job and the psalmist believed that their trials would come to an end, you can be certain that yours will, too, whether in this life or in the next. As you walk through them now, you can also be sure that God is walking with you. He is faithful in every season of your life. So even today, you can see his “good things”—in the peace that he gives you, in his mercy, and in his promise to remain with you.
So join the psalmist in proclaiming, “I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord. I believe that I can experience his presence and his peace. I believe that I can draw from the abundant provision that he provides—right here and right now.”
“Lord, I trust in your goodness and mercy.” (Meditation on Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14, 2026)
Dorothy Day, cofounder of the Catholic Worker, had a deep attachment to Thérèse of Lisieux for her “little way” to God, which was open to all, including people living in poverty. Day writes of Thérèse’s widespread appeal.
What stands out in her life? Her holiness of course, and the holiness of her entire family. That is not an ordinary thing in this day of post-war materialism [and] delinquency….
With governments becoming stronger and more centralized, the common [person] feels [their] ineffectiveness. When the whole world seems given over to preparedness for war and the show of force, the message of Therese is quite a different one.
She speaks to our condition. Is the atom a small thing? And yet what havoc it has wrought. Is her little way a small contribution to the life of the spirit? It has all the power of the spirit of Christianity behind it. It is an explosive force that can transform our lives and the life of the world, once put into effect….
One can state that this saint, of this day, is releasing a force, a spiritual force, upon the world to counteract that fear and that disaster. We know that one impulse of grace is of infinitely more power than a cobalt bomb. Therese has said, “All is grace.”
She declared, “I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth.” “I will raise up a mighty host of little saints.” “My mission is to make God loved, to make Love loved.” (Day, n.d.)
We contemplate the image and vision of our mission in the texts today and seek the fortitude of the Spirit to inspire our persistence as disciples on the Way.
References
Day, D. (n.d.). A Saint for the Masses. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-saint-for-the-masses/
Job, BOOK of JOB | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/job/19?21
Luke, CHAPTER 10 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?1
Meditation on Psalm 27:7-9, 13-14. (2026, October 1). The Word Among Us. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/10/01/1685601/
Morse, E. (2026, October 1). Daily Reflection October 1, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-1-2026
Psalms, PSALM 27 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/27?
Schwager, D. (n.d.). The Kingdom of God Has Come near to You. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 1, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
