Fears and Tears

As week four comes to a close on my journey with Magnify 90, I ponder this week’s virtue and saint, magnanimity and St. Teresa of Calcutta. Magnanimity means to perform outstanding, morally good actions not for recognition but for love of God and neighbor. Magnanimity definitely describes St. Teresa of Calcutta who served the poorest of the poor in India.

In this week’s reading, one thing particularly struck me, which is not to be lukewarm, and just “good enough”, but to be a woman seeking the full glory of God. To love with my whole heart and my whole strength.

That is what St. Teresa did, she loved with her whole heart and she definitely wasn’t lukewarm. I listened to her speech when she won the Nobel peace prize in 1979, and for a woman small in stature, she had a big voice.

“We will begin to love. And to love naturally, we will try to do something. First in our own home, next door neighbor in the country we live, and in the whole world.” Mother Teresa from her acceptance speech Nobel peace prize.

She invites us to love right where we are. Then that love will grow and expand beyond our imagination. It is like a fire burning as wood is added, the flames get bigger, and its warmth embraces all those near it.

Love is willing the good of another. Love is not a feeling. St. Teresa spent many years in spiritual dryness and did not feel God’s presence. But her faith was so strong she continued to serve God in love. What an amazing witness of perseverance.

“God didn’t call me to be successful, God called me to be faithful.” St. Teresa of Calcutta.

As I walk with St. Teresa this week, I am reminded of King David and St. Paul. David as a mere youth and shepherd when he defeated the giant Goliath, and went on to rule the people as King David. And Paul, who was also short in stature, wrote a majority of the New Testament and was eventually martyred for being a Christian. Through their dependence on God. both men had great faith and did mighty deeds for the glory of God.

Lord, I pray for a greater dependence on You and, in my small way, to bring You glory in my little deeds. I pray for the grace to grow in love of You and my neighbor. May my eyes be open to those around me, away from self, and to serve all with charity. Amen.