The ocean and a drop

Mother Teresa once compared her own charitable works to a drop in the ocean; nonetheless qualified it as important by concluding that if she were not to do that work, the ocean would be less by a drop! 

Lessons: 

1. We do not see drops of water in the ocean; we merely see the ocean. If each drop were to seek a distinct identity and not be seen as in union with the other, there would only be drops but no ocean. Unity in diversity is the key; not the latter alone! 
2. Only the ocean survives the summer heat, not individuated water drops or small water bodies. Our vision should outlast our life and work. 
3. Strive for quality; not rest on the laurels of some minor achievements. Aim small, achieve small. Aim big, achieve big!
   
   
   

At Mother Teresa's tomb

While in Kolkata and especially visiting the tomb of Mother Teresa there are a couple of things that truly fascinated me:

• Her personal room... barely able to contain her 'liliputian' bed and a table. Nothing else of any worth.  That too right above the community kitchen, and the room did not have a fan.  
• The tomb itself is kept simple. No frills, lights, tapestry... nothing.  In fact one the of the Brothers asked me, later during the day: "Why is her tomb so 'common'? Unlike other saints, there is hardly anything special about the place!" I replied, anything other than how it is now will be a mockery of her principles and life itself.  
• The house where Mother is buried is still used as a house.  It has not become a market of CD-DVD shops, flower stalls, media house, candle vendors... When there, we saw Sisters going about cleaning the house, washing clothes, arranging the place, writing Chronicles, and of course... praying. 
• There were no CCTV cameras, no guards and high level security, no long queues for entry fees and such! 

Thank you dear MC Sisters for keeping alive Mother's legacy. I sincerely did pray for you all at the Mother's tomb. 

Mother Teresa

I know not how much of this is true, but this is what I heard someone say today, the feast day of Bl. Mother Teresa.  Everyone knows that she was a Loretto nun before she received the 'call' to leave it all and begin a new mission in the slums of Kolkatta.  It is said that while she was in Kolkata teaching children in the posh girls school, one of the girls suddenly fainted in class one day. Later as she walked the lanes and bylanes of the Kolkata slums she saw for herself the abject poverty and miserable living conditions of people.

Now most think that it was the 'call' that propelled her to her mission of serving the poor and destitute in Kolkata... but did not this experience of hers, prompt her divine call?  In other words, it is hard to accept that these two experiences of her life had nothing to do with one another... that there was absolutely no connection between the two.

Whatever be the truth of matters, what truly matters is the exemplary life she lived and the courage with which she expressed her own inner turmoils.  Some people say that her spiritual directors, who were told by her to burn her letters, but did not and then made them public, did something wrong. I would really like to thank them for making known that Mother Tereasa was a normal human being.  Not an angel who fell from heaven but one who toiled hard, square and fair, in every aspect of life to live a life of communion with Jesus.  Her human weaknesses and doubts, rather than act as impediments, are indeed signs of transcendence.

Vocation, Motivation...

We had the monthly recollection this evening and the preacher spoke about loving and growing in one's vocation. He did say something very sensible and practical (though in a long and winding way).  One of the essential points he stressed on was the need to update one's motivation.  He stated that very many of us join the religious or Priestly life for very silly and petty reasons.  However, over the years of formation and study we need to upgrade our motivation and reasons for continuing what and where we are.  Quoting Mother Teresa he said that our true and ultimate vocation is to belong to Christ.

... couldn't have been a better timing when I'm trying to drive home a similar point (through the Seminary day playlet). 

Being Truthful Inspires

This morning our b'fast talk ran into the canonization process of Mother Teresa. Fr Balaswamy said that her canonization process is facing some hurdles given her writings that are being scrutinised now.  In some of these Mother Teresa is to have expressed her great challenge and difficulty of finding Jesus in her daily works.  The rest of us at table found that ridiculous.  I was of the opinion that since she was so truthful, I am better able to relate to her, than if she were to write some pious quotations while within she was being troubled.  Going by the objects being aired, it is perhaps easier for an actor or actress - or better still, professional liars - to be canonized fast and easy, for they would certainly have nothing that would go against this whole process surface anywhere anytime!

During my theological studies, I remember disagreeing with my Professor (that too in the examination hall!) on the point of the letter to the Corinthians by St Paul being the best of his letters. The reason I cited was that I personally prefer St Paul of the Galatians for the letter was written when he was all enraged and discouraged - yet the letter stays on course. The one to the Corinthians was written and dispatched at a more relaxed time.

To sum it all, it is easy to be an angel when nobody ruffles your feathers.  

What is the price I am paying?

The theme of yesterday's movie is still fresh in my mind. Somehow it is haunting me. To add to my woes I hear this quote of Mother Teresa: A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves.

I'm wondering and searching as to what have I sacrificed? Why is it that I am feeling so comfortable? Is it because all is rosy and I've nothing to give - meaning nothing to offer. If so, what is the meaning of me being a Salesian?

Mother Teresa and her magnanimity

Reading the lives of great people is a great source of inspiration. This evening I was reading the newspaper article on Mother Teresa which appeared on August 26, 2008 in The Hindu by Navin Chawla. Speaking about the simple talks of Mother Teresa, he had this to say: "My mind accepted them largely because of the respect in which I held her - a respect intensified because there was no difference between her words and her deeds, between her precepts and her practice and the fact that she could understand the poor because she was poor herself."

Here's Mother herself: "As long as we remain committed to the poorest of the poor and don't end up serving the rich, the work will prosper."

At the ceremony in Oslo, the then Chairman of the Nobel Committee, John Sannes, had this to say: "... In her eyes, the person who, in the accepted sense, is the recipient, is also the given and the one who gives the most, Giving - giving something of oneself - is what confers real joy, and the person who is allowed to give is the one who receives the most precious gift..."