DAILY- HOMILY

September 5, 2015 SATURDAY, 22nd Week in Ordinary Time

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta, Religious                                          

Green   

Col 1:21–23 / Lk 6:1-5

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa, 1910 – 1997), from Albania, spent her life in India working for the poor; she founded the Missionaries of Charity.

Reading:  Col 1:21–23

     You yourselves were once sstranged and opposed to God because of your evil deeds, but now you have been reconciled. God reconciled you by giving up to death the body of Christ, so that you may be without fault, holy and blameless before him, Only stand firm, upon the foundation of your faith, and be steadfast in hope. Keep in mind the Gospel you have heard, which has bene preached to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Gospel: Lk 6:1–5

     One Sabbath Jesus was going through the corn fields and his disciples began to pick heads of grain crushing them in their hands for food. Some of the Pharisees asked them, "Why do you do what is forbidden on the Sabbath?" Then Jesus spoke, "Have you never read what David did when he and his men were hungry?" He entered the house of God, took and ate the bread of the offering and even gave some to his men, though only priests are allowed to eat that bread." And Jesus added, "The Son of Man is Lord and rules over the sabbath."

Reflection:

     Many, if not all, have heard of life story of Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta. We know of her selfless caring for the poorest of the poor in Calcutta, without regard for her own safety or health because she saw Christ in each one of them, and for that she was called the living saint. We see her spirit and legacy in the continuing selfless work and simple lifestyle of her Missionaries of Charity throughout the world. 

     After many years of deteriorating health, suffering from heart, lung and kidney problems, Mother Teresa died on 05 September 1997 at the age of 87. During her life and after her death, Mother Teresa has remained in the public spotlight. 

     The publication of her private correspondence in 2003 revealed deep and difficult crisis of faith she suffered for most of her life. In one despairing letter she wrote, "Where is my Faith . . . even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness and darkness. My God . . . how painful is this unknown pain. I have no Faith . . . I dare not utter the words and thoughts that crowd in my heart . . ."  

     While such revelations are shocking considering her public image of perfect faith, they have also made Mother Teresa a good model for all who also experience doubt in their beliefs.

     For her unwavering commitment to aiding those most in need, Mother Teresa stands out as one of the greatest humanitarians of the 20th century. 

Despite the enormous scale of her charitable activities and the millions of lives she and her Missinary Sisters touched, to her dying day she held only the most humble regard for her achievements. 

     Mother Teresa summed up her life, "By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus."    

     Mother Teresa is our model of a true disciple, with humility and total love for Jesus which translates to her selfless service to those in need who cannot pay her back.  

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     CARISSA P. MARIN

     RINA C. MENDOZA

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most. 

Have a good day!

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