Friday, December 20, 2002

Luke 22: 24 - 27

Who would get many million votes as a 20th century disciple of true greatness? Mother Teresa, whose lifetime (l9l0-l997) spanned most of that century. For many people around the world, she stands as the symbol of ministry to the least, the lost, and the last. Her work with the poorest of street people in Calcutta impressed not only Christians but also people of many faiths.

In the little booklet Mother Teresa: In My Own Words, she provides evidence that her true greatness was a combination of her own humble service and the good influence, the positive effect, of her service on the lives of many other persons, Muslims and Hindus as well as Christians. Here is one example.

     One night, a man came to our house to tell me that a Hindu family of eight children had not eaten anything for days. They had nothing to eat.
     I took enough rice for a meal and went to their house. I could see the hungry faces, the children with their bulging eyes. The sight could not have been more dramatic!
     The mother took the rice from my hands, divided it in half and went out. When she came back a little later, I asked her: "Where did you go? What did you do?"
     She answered, "They also are hungry." "They" were the people next door, a Muslim family with the same number of children to feed and who did not have any food either.
     That mother was aware of the situation. She had the courage and love to share her meager portion of rice with others. In spite of her circumstances, I think she felt very happy to share with her neighbors the little I had taken.
     In order not to take away her happiness, I did not take her any more rice that night. I took her some more the following day.

And here is another bit of concrete evidence of the "ripple effect" of her ministry.

     One day a young couple came to our house and asked for me. They gave me a large amount of money. I asked them: "Where did you get so much money?"
     They answered: "We got married two days ago. Before we got married, we had decided not to celebrate the wedding, not to buy wedding clothes, not to have a reception or a honeymoon. We wanted to give you the money we saved."
     I know what such a decision means, especially for a Hindu family. That is why I asked them, "But how did you think of such a thing?"
     "We love each other so much," they answered, "that we wanted to share the joy of our love with those you serve."
     To share: what a beautiful thing.

Persons of true greatness help many more persons than those they touch directly. They spread love far and wide.

Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those throughout the world who live and die in poverty or hunger. Give them, through our hands, this day their daily bread; and by our understanding love, give joy and peace .
          Mother Teresa      UM Hymnal #446

Frank Kuhlman

All contents copyright 2002 by the Wisconsin Chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Permission is granted to United Methodist congregations, individuals and groups to reproduce and distribute this devotional without charge. All other use requires the advance permission of the editor.