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Not as the world gives
Mother Teresa’s Example
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Dear Friends in Christ,
In Henryk Sienkiewicz’s novel Quo Vadis, one of the characters observes that if the ancient Romans try to understand this new sect called “Christians” by the world’s standards, they would never understand them. That truth holds throughout history, and it applies aptly to Mother Teresa, who died 27 years ago today.
Shortly after her death, National Public Radio aired a point/counterpoint discussion about her. The notorious Christopher Hitchens took the position, as he often did, that Mother Teresa was a terrible person. That she was a phony who had no interest in alleviating economic poverty but only in serving the poor for religious reasons. She didn’t advocate for a new economic or political system. She didn’t even relieve the poverty of the poor but only served them in their poverty. She even wanted to be poor herself! A prominent American cleric took the opposing position that, well, all things considered, Mother Teresa was probably a good person.
Hitchens had a point – according to the world’s standards. And in so doing he proved the point that Christians cannot be understood according to such standards. Even those who admired Mother Teresa often got her wrong and praised her for her “social work.” She herself was aware of this mistaken praise. In her Nobel Peace Prize lecture, she said, “[W]e believe what Jesus had said: I was hungry – I was naked – I was homeless – I was unwanted, unloved, uncared for – and you did it to me. I believe that we are not real social workers. We may be doing social work in the eyes of the people, but we are really contemplatives in the heart of the world. For we are touching the Body of Christ.”
This is not to demean social work, but only to observe that Christian charity, as much as it might look the same, is a different thing. We love the poor because Christ not only commanded it but identified himself with them. It’s not so much that we hate poverty as much as we love the poor. There’s an enormous difference between the two. In the public square, Christians should advocate for justice to the poor. But in our personal lives we should seek to love the poor in our midst.
Mother Teresa’s life and example flows from Matthew 25:31-46 and Jesus’ haunting words: “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Those last words made up Mother Teresa’s famous five finger examination of conscience. Hold up your fingers and count off the words You Did It To Me. When we encounter the poor – the sick, the lonely, the abandoned, the imprisoned, the hungry, the homeless – then we encounter Christ. We are called in those situations not so much to fix their situations (because we often cannot) but to love them in Christ and to love Christ in them.
At the Last Supper, Jesus said to his Apostles, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you” (Jn 14:27). In a similar way, Christians do not love as the world loves. We are called to love Christ in others and with the Heart of Christ. This is the great example and witness of Mother Teresa. May she intercede for us so that we too can be “contemplatives in the heart of the world…touching the Body of Christ.”
Updates…
Renovated Cathedral-As the culmination of our Diocesan Jubilee, today Bishop Burbidge is offering Mass in the newly renovated Cathedral and dedicating the new altar. You can livestream the celebration here. The livestream also includes a brief video history of our Diocese, including our own Monsignor Heller reading the official decree establishing the Diocese of Arlington.
First Friday Adoration begins at 730pm with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the praying of Vespers and continues through the night until the 830am Mass. “Could you not watch one hour with me?” our Lord asked the Apostles. Here’s your opportunity to console our Lord by offering an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.
High School Theology-I’m happy to announce that we will be offering a theology class for high school students: Mondays from 7:00pm – 8:15pm in the school library – beginning September 9th. Parents can register their children by emailing Sister Regina: [email protected] Or, just come to the first meeting. Please enter through Door #15.
Our teacher this year is Diocese of Arlington seminarian Teko Teko-Agbo, who is in his third year of theology at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. Teko is originally from Togo and has an amazing story of coming to Arlington and the seminary.
PREP registration has begun. Please make sure to sign your children up for religious education. We are also seeking parishioners to serve as catechists. Please contact Sr. Regina for more information: 703-533-1182 ext. 103 or [email protected]
SPRED-This fall our Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) is offering a Special Religious Development (SPRED) program for children with disabilities (ages 5-18 years old) and who have not yet received the sacraments. We are looking for teenage and adult volunteers who would like to be partnered with a child during the class to assist with activities.
If you are interested in volunteering or registering a child, please contact Tina Schellman at [email protected] or Sister Regina at [email protected]
The annual Nun Fun Run is this Saturday, September 7th, from 7:45am until 9:00am. For almost 20 years, Saint James School’s PTO has sponsored this event to support Camila Hall, the Convent Home and Healthcare Center for our IHM Sisters.
Come run with us or cheer on the runners to raise money for our retired IHM Sisters. To sign up for the race and get a T-shirt and/or make a straight donation to Camilla Hall, please use the PTO’s Greater Giving Link at 2024 Nun Fun Run (ejoinme.org). you may also donate a one-time gift via Faith Direct link and write “Nun Fun Run” in the memo line. Or send a check to Kathleen Anderson at Saint James Catholic Church, 905 Park Avenue, Falls Church, with “Nun Fun Run” in the memo line.
Interested in the Catholic Faith? For those interested in becoming Catholic…or just learning more about the Faith, classes for the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) begin on September 11th. For more information or to register, please contact Father Pavlick: [email protected] ~ 703-532-8815
Parish Picnic-Join us on September 21st for our Parish Picnic! Games, food, and live entertainment!
The Diocesan Golden Jubilee Pilgrimage is Saturday, October 5th. We have chartered a bus for our parishioners on a first come, first served basis. So, please register early. The cost will be $29 per person. Email or call Susan Ramsel, [email protected] or 703-532-8815 x201, in the Rectory office.
Grandfathers’ Workshop-The Family Institute of Washington is hosting a half-day workshop for grandfathers on Saturday, October 5, 2024, 9 am to 1 pm. It’s an opportunity for men to share their experiences and hear from other grandfather, to discuss the good and the bad, what has worked and what hasn’t. For more information and to register, visit the Family Institute of Washington website at www.fiwdc.org
In other words
I bought a thesaurus the other day. But when I got home and opened it, I discovered all the pages were blank. I have no words to describe how angry I am.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Scalia