‎"The kernel of Saint Thérèse's teaching is often called 'the little way,' meaning that no Christian is too humble or too insignificant to follow it and no thought or action too negligible to infuse with love. In other words, God cherishes not only great actions of love, but also minor, childlike ones. No matter what spiritual darkness you find yourself in, choose as your North Star a tender love for the persons that life's contingencies have put next to you. Do not go looking for more fascinating neighbors to love. Love those right nearest you.

You cannot see God, even if you try. But you can see your neighbor, the tedious one, who grinds on you: Love him, love her. As Jesus loves them. Give them the tender smile of Jesus, even though your own feelings be like the bottom of a bird cage. Do not ask to see Jesus, or to feel Him. That is for children. Love Him in the dark. Love for the invisible divine, not for warm and comforting human consolation. Love for the sake of love, not in order to feel loved in return."
-Michael Novak, No One Sees God

Oh, and this kind of fits in with today's readings, especially the first reading and the Gospel. In today's Gospel, as I'm sure you know, Jesus' apostles try to stop a man from driving out demons in His name because, as Fr. Baker said, "he wasn't in their club or whatever."

But actually, we're all called to holiness, even if it's in little ways.

Fr. Baker said that whenever Jesus passed by somewhere in the Gospels, something happened there, something changed. He went into the tax collection office and called Matthew. Then, Matthew threw a sketchy party with all of his sketchy friends, and he invited Jesus. Jesus went, but the party changed when He got there; he didn't let it stay a sketchy party.

So, Fr. Baker said we're meant to be Christ on this campus and in the rest of the world. When we walk in somewhere, like a sketchy party, our presence should show Christ to others and change whatever is happening there.

I'm still just desperately trying to think of a way to walk into a sketchy party and change the nature of the party in a loving way. If you can think of anything, let me know.

I'm praying for you!

:)