Nehemiah stands trembling before Artaxerxes.
A cupbearer, not a warrior.
But his heart burns for Jerusalem.

He dares to speak.
He dares to ask.
And the king grants it.

Why? Nehemiah says: “Because the good hand of my God was upon me.”

That’s the secret.
Not his power. Not his skill.
The hand of God upon him.

Now to the Gospel.
Three men come to Jesus, all eager — but all with excuses.

“I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus: “Then know this — I have nowhere to lay my head.”

“I will follow you, but first let me bury my father.”
Jesus: “Let the dead bury their dead. You — proclaim the Kingdom.”

“I will follow, but first let me say goodbye.”
Jesus: “No one who looks back is fit for the Kingdom.”

Strong words.
No delays.
No half-hearted disciples.

The Gospel is urgent.

And here comes Thérèse.
Not a prophet in Jerusalem.
Not a missionary in far-off lands.
A hidden nun in Lisieux.

No grand works.
No dramatic journeys.
Only love in little things.

But here’s the shock:
Her life was just as radical.

Because she took Jesus’ words literally.
No “but first let me…”
No excuses.
No delays.

Every small act, every hidden sacrifice, every prayer was:
“Yes, Lord, now.”

She said: “Our Lord does not look at the greatness of our actions, but at the love with which we do them.”

That’s her Little Way.
Not easy.
Not soft.
Radical fidelity in little deeds.

Nehemiah rebuilt the city walls.
Thérèse rebuilt souls through prayer.

Nehemiah dared to speak before a king.
Thérèse dared to trust God as her Father.

Jesus said: “No one who looks back is fit for the Kingdom.”
Thérèse never looked back.
Hand on the plough, eyes on Christ, all the way.

That’s why she is not only a saint, but a Doctor of the Church.

So what about us?

Where are the ruins God is asking you to rebuild?
In your family? In this parish? In your own heart?
Like Nehemiah, you may feel weak — but the good hand of God is upon you.

Where are you tempted to say, “But first let me…”?
Jesus says: “Follow me now.”
Not tomorrow. Not when it’s convenient. Now.

And how do we live it?
In the Little Way.

A kind word when you’d rather snap.

A prayer when you’d rather scroll.

A smile when you’d rather sulk.

A hidden sacrifice no one else sees.

Small things, done with great love.

That’s how saints are made.

Nehemiah shows us boldness.
The Gospel shows us urgency.
Thérèse shows us fidelity in little things.

No excuses.
No delays.
No looking back.

The world thinks greatness is in power.
The Gospel says greatness is in love.

And Thérèse proves it:
Great saints are not made by great deeds,
but by great love in little deeds.