Devotional Life

SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love" - Mother Teresa

What is it about determination that drives a saintly person on a mission? Is it faith? Is it compassion? Is it fierce focus? Probably all of these. But love is the greatest. Possessing such great compassion was one the saintliest of persons in my lifetime, Mother Teresa. We were graced with her global presence of dedication for raising up the "poorest of the poor" in Kolkata, India, and reminding us that their faces are the real face of Jesus.

She cared for lepers and disaster victims. She lifted up the HIV/AIDS patient. She was so tireless in her mission that she started the Missionaries of Charity, an order that still continues today with over 5,000 members.

As a child, Teresa's name was Agnes, and she was deeply fascinated with missionaries and missionary outreach. Years later, she had her own missionary opportunity, in 1948. She left the confines of a convent and followed God's "call within the call," as she explained. It was lonely work, but she took it in stride, donning the attire of the ordinary Indian and working with the least in society. Expanding her outreach, she also founded a hospice for the dying - so that "people who lived like animals could die like angels - loved and wanted."

In 1979, she received the Nobel Peace Prize for her missionary work. Before she died in 1997, she had won numerous awards and gained the attention of the world. Despite this attention, Mother Teresa pressed on to help the poor and dying, undeterred by the temptations of celebrity and glamour. Indeed, she held to faith so strongly, many liberals were angry to realize she remained steadfastly against the sins of abortion and divorce. Determined to the end, she had one message to those called by God to do missionary work - "No matter who says what, you should accept it with a smile and do your own work."

September 6, 2021

A MOTHER'S LOVE

“He often broke out in praise of her, congratulating me on having such a mother” - St. Augustine

The faith of a mustard seed may move mountains, yet the love of a mother can move the world. For the great theologian Augustine, the love of his mother Monica was instrumental in his conversion. But before his conversion, Monica's great love was directed towards her husband and mother-in-law, both of whom caused her no end in grief. Her husband, Patricius, often exploded with anger; he also repeatedly cheated on her. And yet she loved and prayed for him. And her mother-in-law was ill-tempered too and uncooperative. In the end, both came to Christ due mainly to Monica's prayers and kindness.

Her son Augustine was another feat of spiritual endurance altogether. His youth was filled with debauchery. But it was also a period of fine education for the young man. She soon learned her son was a follower of Manichaeism, the heresy that taught that all material reality was evil. The only good was the spirit. But then she had a vision from God that her son would one day come to the true faith of Christ. But not without a mother's enduring love.

In fact, she followed Augustine to Rome. Then to Milan, where her son had hoped to elude her. It was there, in Milan, that Monica turned to Ambrose as her spiritual advisor. It was this bishop that Augustine is referring to in the quote above. Under Ambrose's guidance, Monica became a leader of a group of devout Christian women. She prayed daily for her son. And then on Easter Sunday in 387, Augustine was baptized by Ambrose. Her son had come to Christ.

After his conversion, she told her son that all her prayers had been fulfilled. She was ready to meet God. So as Augustine was preparing to return to Africa to minister there, she suddenly fell sick and died within a week or so. But we can now say with certainty that without her maternal commitment to the spiritual life of her son, we may not have seen the likes of one of the greatest preachers and theologians the world has ever known, St. Augustine. Yes, a mother's love can move the world.

August 27, 2021