An Instrument of Love and Peace – January 11, 2004
A small woman with a big heart made a world of difference. Born in Yugoslavia with the given name of Agnes, she changed her name to Teresa upon taking her religious vows. Mother Teresa, as she came to be known, lived an exceptional life of love and service, first to the poor in India and eventually to people all around the world. Her light and example continue to shine long after her death. In 1985 she spoke at the 40th-anniversary meeting of the United Nations. She recounted: “I made them pray in that hall where they had never prayed before. I told them [that] ‘this organization was established to promote peace in the world. Let us pray to God, the only One who can give us peace.’ And I led them in reciting the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: ‘Lord, make me an instrument of [thy] peace.’ ”[1]
Though she often struggled with feelings of inadequacy, Mother Teresa persisted in doing the Lord’s work. To her final days she lifted and loved the poorest of the poor. She was able to relieve suffering for so many, but she gave all the credit to God. “I don’t do it, he does it. I am only an instrument in his hand. I am surer of this than of my own life,” she said.[2]
Now, rather than being overwhelmed by the scope of her service, let us be inspired to do a little more, to love a little more. Although it’s true that she was one of a kind, so are we. Each one of us can do something, in some way, to relieve suffering, to bring comfort, to lift up the hands that hang down. In small and meaningful ways—and in great efforts—we can reach out in love and kindness. We can pray for peace and seek to do God’s will. We can be instruments in His hands to bring about good. Mother Teresa said, “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But if that drop was not there, I think the ocean would be less by that missing drop. We don’t have to think in numbers. We can only love one person at a time—serve one person at a time.”[3]
Program #3882
[1] The Joy in Loving: A Guide to Daily Living with Mother Teresa, comp. Jaya Chaliha and Edward Le Joly (1996), 32–33.
[2] The Joy in Loving, 22.
[3] The Joy in Loving, 137.