"We can do no great things. Only small things with great love."
"God has not called me to be successful. He called me to be faithful."
These two quotes by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta are quite common and favorites of many. I'm particularly fond of them.
A great blessings recently bestowed on me was the opportunity to live out the charism of Mother Teresa over the course of five weeks, however poorly I may have done so. As a volunteer, I lived, prayed and worked along side six Missionary Sisters of Charity in their house in St. Louis. The results of which is much interior growth, parts of which I shall share through several blogs.
This morning (Friday), my dad had to grind a batch or two of grain for the livestock at home while I've been assigned to help my brother get started chopping and hauling silage. We're not started yet, as something is amiss with the chopper. That mechanical knowledge is beyond me and Phillip has taken it into his hands to fix it. Regardless, we each have a responsibility this morning. We can go about our tasks grudgingly and grumpy, or we can perform them out of love or fidelity. Love of what or whom? God of course. For it is He who placed each of us in this role this day, and so much more.
Our degree of fidelity is the extent to which we submit to or choose that which we are called to do, and how well we do it. I could consider driving silage truck to be mundane and perform my tasks poorly, by driving recklessly or spilling silage unnecessarily. Or I can choose to do this well, making it a prayer by finding ways to delight in that which I do, recite a rosary or two during my many eight mile round treks from field to trench, fast from snacking or sunflower seeds for an hour within the day, or simply find ways to be charitable to those with whom I work and offer up that which I desire not to do and do it any way.
That is one way it which we can apply fidelity. Another is that of our daily self-maintenance, if you will. God manifests Himself in the flesh and the flesh is the means by which we encounter God. While I could tangent this topic, the direction that I want to go is to care for our bodies, temples of the Holy Spirit, with fidelity. Fidelity is faithfulness. How faithful are you to the simple tasks of brushing your teeth, washing your face, showering, eating regular healthy meals, doing your laundry? The list could continue.
In a recent post, I mentioned something about having to do things over and over, so we can learn from them. I described the monotony as a duty of love. We'll doing these things and doing these things with love is a means of practicing fidelity (and charity if done for another person). Such things are not just a responsibility. They are a call to fidelity, to faithfulness, to doing small things with great love.
September 5 was/is the feast day of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. During a mass in her honor, Auxiliary Bishop Rice (St. Louis) spoke especially of Mother Teresa's fidelity to Christ, and His call for her to love Him, for Himself; not for his gifts, the feelings He evoked or the consolations He offered. Love God for God. Blessed Teresa did, as have many, many saints before her.
When I recognize within myself a lack of willingness to brush my teeth or wash my face, I am convicted of my lack of love and my need to grow in and practice fidelity. In particular, last night, after seven plus hours of driving truck and then doing chores, I was reluctant to say my prayers amongst other things. I told Jesus He would have to do them through me for I knew in my weakness I would not be willing. Love never fails.
Thus, I challenge you to see your struggles as opportunities to grow in fidelity; in faithfulness and love. So much easier said than done.
In Christ.
"God has not called me to be successful. He called me to be faithful."
These two quotes by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta are quite common and favorites of many. I'm particularly fond of them.
A great blessings recently bestowed on me was the opportunity to live out the charism of Mother Teresa over the course of five weeks, however poorly I may have done so. As a volunteer, I lived, prayed and worked along side six Missionary Sisters of Charity in their house in St. Louis. The results of which is much interior growth, parts of which I shall share through several blogs.
This morning (Friday), my dad had to grind a batch or two of grain for the livestock at home while I've been assigned to help my brother get started chopping and hauling silage. We're not started yet, as something is amiss with the chopper. That mechanical knowledge is beyond me and Phillip has taken it into his hands to fix it. Regardless, we each have a responsibility this morning. We can go about our tasks grudgingly and grumpy, or we can perform them out of love or fidelity. Love of what or whom? God of course. For it is He who placed each of us in this role this day, and so much more.
Our degree of fidelity is the extent to which we submit to or choose that which we are called to do, and how well we do it. I could consider driving silage truck to be mundane and perform my tasks poorly, by driving recklessly or spilling silage unnecessarily. Or I can choose to do this well, making it a prayer by finding ways to delight in that which I do, recite a rosary or two during my many eight mile round treks from field to trench, fast from snacking or sunflower seeds for an hour within the day, or simply find ways to be charitable to those with whom I work and offer up that which I desire not to do and do it any way.
That is one way it which we can apply fidelity. Another is that of our daily self-maintenance, if you will. God manifests Himself in the flesh and the flesh is the means by which we encounter God. While I could tangent this topic, the direction that I want to go is to care for our bodies, temples of the Holy Spirit, with fidelity. Fidelity is faithfulness. How faithful are you to the simple tasks of brushing your teeth, washing your face, showering, eating regular healthy meals, doing your laundry? The list could continue.
In a recent post, I mentioned something about having to do things over and over, so we can learn from them. I described the monotony as a duty of love. We'll doing these things and doing these things with love is a means of practicing fidelity (and charity if done for another person). Such things are not just a responsibility. They are a call to fidelity, to faithfulness, to doing small things with great love.
September 5 was/is the feast day of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. During a mass in her honor, Auxiliary Bishop Rice (St. Louis) spoke especially of Mother Teresa's fidelity to Christ, and His call for her to love Him, for Himself; not for his gifts, the feelings He evoked or the consolations He offered. Love God for God. Blessed Teresa did, as have many, many saints before her.
When I recognize within myself a lack of willingness to brush my teeth or wash my face, I am convicted of my lack of love and my need to grow in and practice fidelity. In particular, last night, after seven plus hours of driving truck and then doing chores, I was reluctant to say my prayers amongst other things. I told Jesus He would have to do them through me for I knew in my weakness I would not be willing. Love never fails.
Thus, I challenge you to see your struggles as opportunities to grow in fidelity; in faithfulness and love. So much easier said than done.
In Christ.
