Br.
Curtis Almquist of the Society of St. John Evangelist notes, “There are so many variables in life over which we have little, if any,
control. Rather than seeing life as a series of obstacles, frustrations, and
impenetrable questions, we could instead see life as an endless stream of
invitations to cooperate with whatever God is up to, and to abandon
ourselves into God’s hands and God’s time.”
Teresa herself resisted the invitation of the Spirit to
join the religious life. Even within the religious community she faced
condemnation for her life of austerity and mystic experiences. In the Gospel
for St. Teresa’s day (October 15), Jesus tells us, “You are the light of the
world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp
puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to
all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that
they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)
When Teresa finally embraced God’s invitation, and her part
in God’s work, she was able to reform the Carmelite Order, found several
monasteries and write extensively. The Collect for St. Teresa says, “O God, by
your Holy Spirit you moved Teresa of Avila to manifest to your Church the way
of perfection…enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true
holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts…”
One of the prayers she is known for begins “Christ has no
body but yours”. Jesus told his followers, ‘you are the light of the world’,
the way God works in the world. Brother Curtis encourages us to listen for
God’s invitation to how we are to do God’s work in our own lives.
This week, I suggest using this prayer in your quiet time
and ask God what God’s invitation to you is for each day. As I’ve said
before, it may not be a huge thing. We can be the smile someone needs, or we
can be the way money is raised for cancer treatment, or the political action
needed to make a change. All are God’s work in the world. As you pray this
prayer, ponder how God might use YOUR hands, feet, or eyes to bring God’s
compassion to the world. Think about how you really are Christ’s body within
the world.
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
If you prefer, you can meditate on the words using this setting by David Ogden.
