Not Problems, Just Gifts
Posted by Arwen Mosher in Faith on Friday, January 02, 2009 5:42 PM
Yesterday morning after Mass our pastor stood up to say a few words for the new year.
Referencing the fact that many parishioners will likely face new and difficult challenges in 2009, he talked about Mother Teresa.
When that great lady was Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, she apparently did not like to have the word “problem” spoken in her presence.
Our pastor told us that Mother Teresa said that there are no problems, only “gifts from God” and “unusual gifts from God.”
I pondered that insight for a while. I could see how it could appear to be blindly optimistic, since there is real evil in the world.
Then again, the teaching of the Catholic Church is that God allows no evil except in order that he might bring about greater good out of it. (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, #309-314) The Catechism quotes St. Catherine of Siena: “Everything comes from love, all is ordained for the salvation of man, God does nothing without this goal in mind.”
Mother Teresa appears to have been on the right track with her idea about gifts from God.
Nevertheless, God’s gifts - especially the more “unusual” ones - can sometimes take devastating form. Our pastor acknowledged this and encouraged us to continue offering each other love and support as we deal with the challenges of the coming year.
Then he crowned his short talk with the truth that is the key to it all.
“In the face of this year’s gifts and unusual gifts, never forget that the Savior whom we serve is already victorious.”
Let’s hold on to that in 2009.
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