As we strive to discover our purpose in life, we look at our character strengths, our talents, our passions, and our life stories among many things. Eventually, we need to apply these gifts and this purpose for something greater than ourselves. But where do we begin...?
David Scott wrote a moving article about Mother Teresa in September's St. Anthony Messener magazine. Her words, inspired by Matthew 25, can definitely help us find ways to truly live our purpose and live a life of meaning...
"As Mother Teresa explained it: “Christ understood that we have a terrible hunger for God...that we have been created to be loved, and so he made himself a Bread of Life and he said, ‘Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you cannot live, you cannot love, you cannot serve’...He also wants to give us the chance to put our love for him in living action. He makes himself the hungry one, not only for bread, but for love. He makes himself the naked one, not only for a piece of cloth but for that understanding love, that dignity, human dignity. He makes himself the homeless one, not only for the peace of a small room, but for that deep sincere love for the other. And this is the Eucharist. This is Jesus, the Living Bread that He has come to break with you and me.”
Many times when we think of the poor, we think of helping with physical things like clothing and food, and we definitely should! This quote from Mother Teresa helps us think about those among us that are hungry for love, naked for human dignity and respect, and homeless because of rejection. To remind me of this on a daily basis I asked my daughter to paint for me a version of the Catholic Worker drawing of people standing in a soup kitchen line with Jesus amongst them. Instead of homeless, she painted middle class people that also hunger for love and dignity.
Technorati Tags: Catholic, Justice, Mother Teresa, Service
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