Tonight I attended a celebration in honour of the newest saint–St. Teresa of Kolkata, or, to many who loved her, simply Mother. I snuck into the church two minutes late and scrambled to find a spot to stand and half see the celebration. The place was brimming with people who had come to support the local sisters who were beaming at the crowd and the Love in the room. The Archbishop was presiding and the sanctuary was full of priests.

His Grace made a link to Labour Day–St. Teresa shows us how to labour–and I would add for whom the work of our hands should be dedicated to. St. Teresa did small deeds with great love. She worked with the least of these–the Gospel Reading used was Matthew 25, one of my all-time favourites. She cared with dignity for the dying. She is someone who after mystical experiences remained in the desert for decades yet she stayed true to the work she was originally called to and no one ever knew her inner anguish.

I found myself these past few days, thinking You worked with the dying, St. Teresa, pray for me. I do not really know what the prayer means but it has come several times over the weekend and I have just let it be without trying to dissect it. That is not easy to do. Even tonight, I saw a number of people who I had not seen for a very long time, and I would say that a wee miracle even unfolded in one of those encounters. I do not need to know why this happened or what will come of it but I offer it to God with thanksgiving.  I think St. Teresa is already at work, listening to prayers and doing small deeds with great love. St. Teresa of Kolkata, pray for us.

Peace,

Suzanne

Reflection Questions

What small deeds can you do with great love?

Can you stand in the emptiness of your prayer, as Mother Teresa did, and trust that God is still at work?

Prayer

St. Teresa of Kolkata, pray to God for us, that we may do small deeds with great love as the busy fall gets underway again.  May we know that God desires us to work for the coming of the Kingdom in every day miracles, showing compassion and mercy to all we meet, especially the least of these.  Amen.