When I was at theological college I had the most wonderful personal tutor – Revd Ann Coleman. Ann is an amazing woman who exudes holiness and someone that many of us female Ordinands aspired to emulate in many ways – in the knowledge that it was highly unlikely we would ever achieve even a fraction of Ann’s ability to exercise priestly ministry in such a compelling way.
Ann was also a great teacher and one of her particular passions that she passed on to us was her love of St. Theresa of Avila, whose life we commemorate today
Theresa was a Spanish nun who lived in the 16th century and is greatly revered by many Christian traditions as a saint and mystic. She was also a prolific writer and I have quoted below one of her best know prayers
“Let nothing disturb you, Let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away: God never changes.
Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”
Such beautiful words and ones that cannot help but still the hearts and souls of the most anxious of people. There are few people in the world who can honestly claim never to have been afraid or worried in their lives. We all experience times when we are impatient for situations to change and other times when we try and cling on to the past even when we know that we need to move on.
In this continuing season of uncertainty and constantly changing requirements, guidance and regulations I think these words speak into my heart more than they ever have done in the past.
St. Theresa reminds us that in the midst of the tumultuous world we may find ourselves in, one thing is clear – God never changes, He is the one constant in our lives, the one we can always rely on to be there for us.
And thank goodness that is our truth as followers of Jesus as we are bombarded with information all claiming to be the truth but in which we are never quite sure what is indeed genuine or what is fake. Jesus is the Way and the Truth and when we carry that in our hearts we need never be fearful
I hope that you will find St Theresa’s prayer helpful either now or in the future. Whatever life throws at us we can all be sure of one thing – God never changes and if we allow Him into our lives we can be sure that He will look after us and be sufficient for all our needs. With God beside us we are indeed blessed and our lives made complete for eternity