Recently I started reading the autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux and found great wisdom from the very first chapter. She writes that for a long time she wondered why God did not give the same graces to everyone. For example, some great sinners like St. Paul were given extraordinary graces, while others have never heard of the Lord’s name. Additionally, some privileged souls have very few obstacles on their path toward Him. (page three). St. Thérèse explains “He does not call those who are worthy, but those He chooses to call.”
St. Thérèse describes how Jesus enlightened this mystery for her through nature, as she saw that every flower He has created has a beauty all its own. The rose does not remove the violet’s scent or reduce the daisy’s charm. “So it is in the world of souls, the living garden of the Lord. It pleases Him to create great Saints, who may be compared with the lilies or the rose; but He has also created little ones, who must be content to be daisies or violets, nestling at His feet to delight His eyes when He should choose to look at them. The happier they are to be as He wills, the more perfect they are.” (page four).
So each of us are individuals created for God’s purpose. “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.” (1 Corinthians 12: 7). “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of the Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12: 13). St. Thérèse’s wise words reminds us: “Just as the sun shines equally on the cedar and the little flower, so the Divine Sun shines equally on everyone, great and small. (page four).
de Lisieux, Saint Thérèse. (2010). The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. TAN Books.
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