"Brothers and sisters: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of
Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of
goodness and righteousness and truth." Eph. 5:8
Today’s readings
speak of the light of Christ shining in the darkness of the world. This theme
also shines through the book “Come, Be My
Light,” a collection of letters by Mother Teresa. In it, she describes the visions
of Jesus and Mary she received in 1946 that called her to begin her life’s work.
Jesus said, “My little one, come, come, carry me into the
holes of the poor—Come, be My light—I cannot go alone—They don't know Me—so
they don’t want me… go amongst them—carry Me with you… how I long to enter…
their dark, unhappy homes… in your love for Me, they will see Me, know Me, want
Me… Fear not. It is I who am asking you to do this for me… it is I in you, with
you, for you. You will suffer – suffer very much – but remember I am with you… you
are My own – and I am yours only. Fear not… Only obey… cheerfully and promptly
and without any questions... I shall never leave you – if you obey.”
“… I saw a big
crowd – all kinds of people – very poor and children were there... They all had
their hands lifted towards me…. They called out “Come, come, save us, bring us to Jesus.” … I could see great
sorrow and suffering in their faces – I was kneeling near Our Lady… I heard her
say, “take care of them – they are mine.
–Bring them to Jesus – carry Jesus to them – Fear not… Jesus and I will be with
you and your children.”
“…Our Lord said… Will you… take care of them… bring them to
Me?”
Mother Teresa
answered “yes,” and began her mission to bring the light of Christ into the
darkness of poverty and to illuminate a world darkened by sin, allowing His
light to shine through her work and her words for the next 50+ years. The
richness of those early consolations soon gave way to a long, dark night of the
soul for Mother Teresa herself, but despite that interior darkness, Christ’s
light and love continued to shine forth through her.
Let each of us
also say “yes” to Jesus’s request, to bring His light and love to all those living
in the darkness of poverty, loneliness, and unbelief.
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