It may shock you to learn that some people hate Mother Teresa. Somehow they are convinced she was a fraud, was somehow building an empire and a brand, and ultimately, she was some sort of great fabrication of the Catholic Church.
Make no mistake, St. Teresa of Calcutta’s love and compassion for others was real. What people without faith can sometimes not fathom is the motivation. Without understanding her, her actions seemed like that of a crazy person or someone trying to put on a show. St. Teresa of Calcutta lived a heroic life. Here are three simple ways you can be like her:
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It’s about Jesus. Let his love be the focus of everything you do.
For St. Teresa of Calcutta. Everything in her life was about Jesus. Her service flowed out of her relationship with Jesus.
St. Paul speaks about this in 1 Cor 1:23 “We proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.” Mother Teresa is a fool to the world precisely because she is a fool for the Lord.
We must invite Jesus to take control of our lives not once, but each and every day. His love should and must be our motivation.
Have you made a prayer of surrender to Jesus today? Take a moment to stop everything and pray a simple prayer. Here’s one if you are struggling with words:
Jesus, I give you all of me today. Let me experience and know your love. Lead me. Guide me. Everything I have is yours.
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Find your Calcutta
Here’s one of my favorite things she said over and over again.
Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.”
There are hurting people all around you. Find these people today and find a way to love them.
If you can’t see your Calcutta in front of you, maybe you’ve grown a little too comfortable.
Make a prayer to ask Jesus to break your heart for what breaks his. Give him permission to make you uncomfortable. The world is hurting.
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Do something tangible to help the poor.
You can make a tangible difference in the life of a person in poverty. There is a line in a song that I love that says “Poverty is so hard to see, when it’s only on your TV, 20 miles across town.” Poverty is real. The reality is these people are suffering.
Sometimes in doing something for the poor, we make them an object. I feel good because I did something for “the poor.” The poor are real people with dreams and real pain. Find a way to help the poor while building a relationship with them.
Here are two things you can do with me to help the poor. Join me in one or both of them:
- I am running in the Chicago Marathon to support the work of the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels in their work with the poor. The purpose of the Mission is twofold: to assist the materially poor and to share the treasure of our Catholic Faith. Can you sponsor my run for them? My goal is to raise at least $1000 for their work. Will you donate $26 ($1 for each mile)? Two of the amazing Sisters that serve there were a part of #NunWeek for #ShareJesus.
Donate today https://www.easytithe.com/f/?k=SR9Z523TJPYJ6LPQ
- Run with me in the Pittsburgh Marathon (5k, Relay, Half or Full Marathon) to support Dirty Vagabond Ministries. You run for free and commit to a minimum fundraising goal.
Come join many of the #ShareJesus speakers in supporting this amazing Catholic ministry to at risk youth. Learn more and sign up today at dirtyvagabond.com/marathon.
These are just two tangible ways I am committed to helping the poor this year that I think are awesome. Do something. Form a relationship with a great organization that cares for the poor and helps them to know and experience Jesus. What’s something you are going to do to help the poor? Share your ideas below.
You are called to be a saint just as Mother Teresa was. This is what you were created for!
St. Teresa of Calcutta, Pray for us.
It is refreshing to have such a clear cut direct teaching on the great Saint of Calcutta.
Mother pray for us all. Especially so that we may recognize the need within our family, friends and neighbors. Help all of us Catholics and all children of God to look and see the face of Jesus in one another.
There is not what I would call very many poor in our area but a tornado tore up a family’s home a few mile south of us we did not know them but spent a couple days cleaning up the surrounding fields of what was left of their house. They are not poor but they sure needed the help as they were over whelmed with the huge mess. That was my Calcutta. am now looking and listening for the next Calcutta. I pray that I will respond properly when it arises. Saint Teresa of Calcutta pray for us
Joe
Thank you for the down to earth real teaching.I am blessed by all of Mother’s words and deeds. .I am sure Mother Teresa rejoice more if only Jesus was honored.
I was glad she is being honored but the way kind of goes against what she modeled for us to do, I think she would be more honored with the church taugh giving our lives totally to Jesus as Lord and Mastor…holding work projects,sacrificing meal etc to give and work with the poor .. and really learning to act like she modeled. Our church had a special mass in cathedral a town 2hrs away..I did not go..I gave the gas $ to the Salvation Army. Thanks again for your lessons..keep shearing Jesus !The only way, truth and light. God Bless
I used to give to the Salvation Army but not since I found out they are now supporting abortion
Andy,
Thank you for sharing your faith, your talent and your gifts with us! St. Teresa of Calcutta was such a powerful, yet simple woman who made the world a better place – and you, my friend, are not far behind!!
God Bless!
I am truly inspired by the works of St. Teresa of Calcutta. There are so many poor in my area I am opening my heart to see what direction God wants me to go with offering help to those in need.
I am thinking of following your lead and organizing a walk a thon (more my style) to raise money to help those who go without the basics.
Keep up the good works.
Love your suggestions. Good luck with your runs.
Great post, Andy! Thanks for the reminder to see the poor as people and not as a general need. I’ll click through to donate. 🙂
Thank you !!! It’s not always easy helping someone in need. Walking humbly with the Lord does help. What would He do? I am sure St Theresa did this with great Faith St Theresa of Calcutta pray for us.We must also be Poor in Spirit