Saint Therese of Lisieux. She lived till the age of 24. She lived most of her life in a convent in the suburbs of France. She is considered one of the most ambitious saints the church has ever seen because Saint Therese desired to be a saint from the depths of her heart. And we are called to have that holy ambition as well. In the gospel for this Sunday, Jesus says, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Strive to be like the heavenly Father. Strive to be holy; strive to be a saint. To be ambitious, you have to sacrifice something, and you have to risk something.
Our culture is so fearful that we don’t want to take risks. To have holy ambition, we have to risk everything. I pray for all of you that you can have that holy ambition within your hearts to strive to be a saint. Right now, just in this moment ’til the end of your life. Full set. Be a saint.
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