MOTHER TERESAS RESPONSE TO SUFFERING IS A VIBRANT EXAMPLE OF THE - TopicsExpress

MOTHER TERESAS RESPONSE TO SUFFERING IS A VIBRANT EXAMPLE OF THE LOVE THAT THE GOOD SAMARITAN (LK 10:25-37) SHOWED TO THE SUFFERING MAN BEATEN AND DYING AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HER LIFE IS VIRTUALLY DESCRIBED IN THE COMMENTARY ON THE GOOD SAMARITAN IN THE LETTER: The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering by Pope John Paul II. HE INCORPORATED A FAVORITE TEXT OF MOTHER TERESA, You did it to Me (MT 25:40). These words about love, about actions of love, acts linked with human suffering, enable us once more to discover at the basis of all human sufferings the same redemptive suffering of Christ. Christ said: You did it to Me. He Himself is the one who in each individual experiences love; He Himself is the one who receives help when this is given to every suffering person without exception. He Himself is present in this suffering person, since His salvific suffering has been opened once and for all to every human suffering. And all those who suffer have been called once and for all to become sharers in Christs sufferings, just as all have been called to complete with their own sufferings what is lacking in Christs afflictions.At one and the same time Christ has taught man to do good by his suffering and to do good to those who suffer. In this double aspect, He has completely revealed the meaning of suffering. (#30). MOTHER TERESA, AS THE GOOD SAMARITAN, RESPONDED TO SUFFERING WITH LOVE. SHE RESPONDED WITH HER WHOLE LIFES MISSION TO THE THIRST OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS FOR THE SALVATION OF SOULS. SHE RESPONDED BY REACHING OUT TO THE POOREST OF THE POOR. SHE RESPONDED TO THE DYING ON THE STREETS OF CALCUTTA BY A MINISTRY OF LOVE THAT BROUGHT JOY TO THE ABANDONED. WHEN NECESSARY, SHE USED A WHEELBARROW TO BRING THEM TO A HOSPITAL OR A SHELTER. SHE ESTABLISHED A HOUSE FOR THE DYING CALLED Kalighat, SO THAT THE DYING PERSON COULD EXPERIENCE LOVE AND PERSONAL DIGNITY AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. IN A PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS, SHE RECEIVED MORE THAN EIGHT THOUSAND OF THE DYING, OF WHOM THIRTY- FIVE HUNDRED PERISHED. (Information taken from Such a Vision of the Street: Mother Teresa--the Spirit and the Work, by Eileen Eagan, Image, 1986,p. 74.) LIKE JESUS, AND LIKE ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISSI, MOTHER TERESA AND HER MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY REACHED OUT TO THE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY - THE LEPERS. SHE TREATED THEM WITH LOVE AND MEDICAL AID USING A MOBILE CLINIC. SHE BROUGHT JOY INTO THEIR LIVES BY HER LOVE. MOTHER TERESA KNEW WELL THE POWER OF SUFFERING OFFERED WITH LOVE. UNITED WITH THE PASSION AND THIRST OF JESUS FOR SOULS, SHE MADE USE OF SUFFERING AS A SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL POWER. SHE RECRUITED SICK AND SUFFERING PERSONS TO BE LINKED TO THE WORK OF MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY. THE CONSTITUTION OF CO-WORKERS NAMED JACQUELINE DE DECKER OF BELGIUM AS THE LINK WITH THE SICK AND THOSE UNABLE TO JOIN IN [M.C.] ACTIVITIES, SO THAT THEY COULD BECOME CLOSE CO-WORKERS OF AN INDIVIDUAL SISTER OR BROTHER BY OFFERING PRAYERS AND SUFFERINGS FOR EACH SISTER AND BROTHER (ibid, p. 368). Jacqueline had been convinced that her vocation to use her gifts in India was of the Spirit. She faced with anguish the realization that she was to live out her days far from India and to undergo repeated surgery to stave off paralysis. Eventually, the operations on her spine numbered twenty. I wrote to Mother Teresa, she related, and straightway the answer was, May I ask you to offer everything for me and the work? This was in 1950. Later, she asked me to find one sick and suffering person for each young woman who came to join her in the work. Why not become spiritually bound to our Society which you love so dearly. While we work in the slums, you share in the merit, the prayers, and the work with your sufferings and prayers. The work is tremendous and I need workers, it is true, but I need souls like yours to pray and suffer for the work. CALLING JACQUELINE HER SISTER, MOTHER TERESA TOLD HER THAT SHE WOULD BE A TRUE MISSIONARY OF CHARITY, in body in Belgium but in soul in India. MOTHER TERESA REMINDED HER, Our Lord must love you much to give you so great a part in His suffering. Be brave and cheerful and offer much for me --- that I may bring many souls to God --- AND IN ANOTHER LETTER, You are a burning light which is being consumed for souls. JACQUELINE DE DECKER AGREED TO BECOME SPIRITUALLY BOUND WITH THE SOCIETY AND TO FIND OTHER HANDICAPPED PEOPLE WHO WOULD OFFER UP THEIR SUFFERINGS FOR A MISSIONARY OF CHARITY. BY HAVING A LINK BETWEEN EACH MISSIONARY OF CHARITY AND A SUFFERING PERSON OFFERING ALL THEIR SUFFERING FOR THE MISSIONARY, MOTHER TERESA FULFILLED THE TWO-FOLD TEACHING OF JESUS ON SUFFERING: At one and the same time Christ has taught man to do good by his suffering and to do good to those who suffer. (Christian Meaning of Human Suffering, John Paul II, #30.) BY DOING GOOD WITH SUFFERING AND TO THE SUFFERING, MOTHER TERESA AND THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY - LIKE ST. PAUL - ARE SHARERS IN CHRISTS SUFFERINGS AND complete what is lacking in Christs afflictions (COL 1:24). LIKE SAINT FAUSTINA, MOTHER TERESA WAS A WITNESS OF LOVE THAT TRANSFORMED SUFFERING. SHE WOULD RESPOND TO COMMENTS ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY WORK OF THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY WITH HUMILITY. We are doing ordinary things with extraordinary love. MOTHER TERESA SAW JESUS IN EVERY POOR AND SUFFERING PERSON, AND SO SHE DID TO THE LEAST OF THEM WHAT SHE WOULD DO TO JESUS. I THIRST REV. GEORGE KOSICKI, CSB youtube/playlist?list=PLl6BeUzXcF-lqsRmOFr5NiZ-zR7wFOniG