Grace to you! Oct. 1, the universal Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, a young woman whose life radiated passionate faith. In Nigeria, it is also a day the local church honors another excellent model of Christian faith: the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Queen of Nigeria. Both women show what it means to follow Christ with unshakable passion and single-minded devotion.
As I reflect on these feasts alongside today’s readings, I am drawn not only to their witness but also to the many other passionate believers who shape my life. Reflecting on their examples, I find myself asking: What are the marks of a passionate believer, and how might these inspire us in our daily spiritual journey?
The Marks of a Passionate Believer
The passionate believer fixes their gaze on the goal. Storms may rage and distractions may rise, yet the believer presses on toward the finish line. The voice of God within does not fall silent, and zeal does not die out.
At times, passion may feel dormant and God seem silent. The saints refer to this as the “desert experience” or the “dark night of the spirit.” Yet even in the seeming silence, the soul remains anchored in God. The Holy Spirit uses those moments to train, deepen, and refine. Passion may not always manifest in outward activity, but it never fades within.
Passion is the palpable expression of deep love; love that dares and acts with holy boldness. As another saintly woman, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, explained, it is dogged commitment: loyal and faithful to the core.
A passionate believer breathes the vision of Christ. Loyalty to the life of Christ is their ultimate desire.
A Believer of Convenience
By contrast, the believer of convenience operates on expediency. Excitement comes from external sources, not from the Spirit within, so distractions easily pull them away.
An African proverb about the dog and the tortoise tells the story. The dog runs faster but chases every smell of food or sound of a rabbit in the woods. The tortoise, slow and steady, keeps on the path until it crosses the finish line. A believer of convenience is like the distracted dog. Any slight whisper of the tempter pulls them in, and before long, they realize they are deep in sinful conditions.
A passionate believer is like the tortoise in the proverb: steady and unshaken. The world’s glamour may shine and distract, yet they keep their eyes, through the power of grace, on the finish line, on the Lord, the author and perfecter of their faith. They push on amidst the raging storm.
The Cost of Passionate Discipleship
The Blessed Lord showed us the cost of passionate discipleship. In Luke 9:57-61, three people expressed their desire to follow him. To each, the Lord responded with words that cut through hesitation: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
He wanted them, and us, to see that true discipleship is not about convenience. It calls for a singular purpose and full commitment.
Saint Thérèse lived that call in her “Little Way.” She turned even the smallest acts of daily life into offerings of love. Mary, the Queen of Nigeria, said yes to God with her whole being, a passionate believer from the beginning. Both women show us true devotion to the Lord; how to follow Christ without wavering.
Remain Resolute
So, what does this mean for us? A passionate believer embraces God’s cause with firm resolve, seeking to be like Christ through the power of divine grace. Passion is not measured by the quantity of work in God’s name, but by the quality of commitment. It is a deep love for the Lord, who molds us daily into divine likeness, ever new and constantly renewing.
Remain passionate. Do not grow jaded. As the Book of Revelation 2:4 admonishes, never leave your first love. Let your daily prayer and practice of virtue, no matter how small they may seem to you, reflect your passion for the Lord. Those seemingly tiny gestures matter.
Be single-minded in the God-cause. God’s grace supplies the strength and will bring you to the finish line. Amen.
God love you. God bless you.
[Daily Readings: Nehemiah 2:1-8; Luke 9:57-62]
