RSS Feed
Mother Teresa's Via Dolorosa
If Job can question the plan of Providence and if Jesus can cry out “Father, Father, why hast thou forsaken me”, then Mother Teresa can, without tarnish or shame, be admired in the midst of her doubts and fears. In the matter of fact, such personal struggles may demonstrate proof of the miraculous in her life. Mother Teresa walked on her own Via Dolorosa.
Her personal writings expose the fact that not only did she doubt and question God, but she also doubted and questioned herself. That petite fragile woman demonstrates to all of us, even after death, that her strength came not only from her commitment to God and church, but also in the distribution of provision that a times she lacked.
She gave hope, when hope at times she had none. She gave faith when at night she wrestled with unbelief. She spoke on behalf of peace, when her soul was at war. She took care of the orphans when she felt abandoned by her heavenly father.
One of the qualifications for Sainthood requires validation of miracles in the midst of ministry. What greater miracle can one demonstrate than to give what at times, you may not have? Is this not what truly makes one a Saint? Is a Saint one that is perfect, flawless, faith filled and unmoved? Or could a Saint be a hungry soul who feeds, a doubting spirit who imparts belief, and an impoverished life filled by the very act of charity?
Mother Teresa is no longer that petite fragile woman in the midst of poverty. Today, she stands tall. Her journey teaches us that faith and fear at times walk together.
At the end of the day, she reached out to the poorest of the poor not exclusively at the impetus of her religion but also as a result of the fact that she knew first hand, in her soul, what it felt like to go to bed hungry, lonely and at war. Yet she kept on giving. Her struggles made her human; her actions may very well make her a Saint.
By
Samuel Rodriguez
|
September 3, 2007; 9:13 AM ET
Share This: 
Technorati
| Del.icio.us | Digg | Facebook
Previous: Faithful to Christ Despite Doubts |
Next: God With Us?
Posted by: Jihadist | September 3, 2007 11:01 PM
Report Offensive Comment
If Mother Teresa accomplished so much with her doubts, how much more can people of faith accomplish with assurance of God's existence. The problem today with clergy and religious people is that we celebrate the superstars who are at times more confused, depressed and filled with unbelief than the rest of us. The message is always stronger than the messenger.
Posted by: John Solis | August 31, 2007 6:11 PM
Report Offensive Comment
The comments to this entry are closed.
John Solis
Interesting point you made. Mother Teresa accomplish so much here on earth not in spite, but perhaps, because of her doubts.
Faith-based NGOs' workers are the most committed I've seen, fired by their beliefs in their work. They are generally not cynical, and this really helps in getting them through whatever personal and logistical challenges arises in their work.
Some believers do tend to question, blame or express frustration to God or with God for all human failings within themself and fellow men.
It is not so much why God has forsaken us, but why have we, with free will, forsaken our sense, humanity and fellow men.
Thank God for God. Without God, we have no one to blame but ourselves, the still pathetic fixers of blame to others than we are.
As for celebrating "superstars" who are at times more confused, depressed and filled with unbelief than the rest of us, I'm not too sure, belief or unbelief.
All the "superstars" from the arts to the sciences are a bit "off" too, in behavior and mind so to speak. The polite English term is eccentric. Van Goth, for one, is a nutcase. Micheal Jackson is definitely bizzare, but I still love his "Thriller". And then, there is Mozart......... and Edison is most certainly very obssessed. He did get the light bulb right after hundreds of efforts.
Is there not a cliche about there being a fine line between insanity and genius?
I remember Einstein's a genius as told so, but more interested in the likes of William Herschel, Joseph Von Fruahofer, William Higgins, Ejnar Hertzsprung, Arthur Eddington, Harlow Shapley, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, Edwin Hubble, Georges Lemaitre etc.
These people's real work on the cosmos are truly more fascinating than Einstein and his theories. Just as what Mother Teresa did in the slums of Calcutta is more fascinating as an expression of her faith than any pronouncements of the clergy on hope, faith and charity.
Down with Hitchens!
Boarding school bugger position or not!
Up with Mother Teresa!
Missionary position or not!
I've gone off orbit enough for you on Mother Teresa as a human activist? :)
Thank you and best regards
J