Long before the sun I rose and shone this morning--setting out on a mission to an unfamiliar destination. I had the privilege of celebrating Mass at 6:30 for the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's infatigable sisters, but since it was my first time, I was relying on a vague printout to trace a route to their house.
Walking through the early darkness to the metro station, under skies that thankfully were not releasing the heavy downpours of the day before, I came to a virtually abandoned station. I had almost the entire platform as I waited--too long--for a very late train to come.
Riding it to the end of the line I was able to immediately catch the bus that would take me to my destination.
Should take me to my destination. My bus driver professed ignorance of the road and stop I showed him on the map, and so we (he) puzzled over it till the end of the line, at which point he said I should take the next bus back to find the stop.
I'm glad that one of the virtues that religious sisters cultivate is patience. After my return driver (who had the same surprising ignorance of the names of his own stops) was trumped by a fellow passenger who knew which stop I should get off at, I walked the two blocks to where two habited nuns waited out on the street for the absentee father.
The readings happily were perfect for the morning and the community--Jesus reaffirming that it is in the relinquishing of possessions that one is united to him. This house serves pregnant women: these sisters who have given up everything serve mothers who have almost nothing. Meanwhile, back in my home country, voters decided that their own money was more important than those expendable unborn. The happiness I witnessed this morning indicates that the sisters may have made the better choice.
I returned home in the brilliant sunshine through a freshly washed city. A once-trodden path is much more easily followed, so my next visit should be much simpler. But hopefully just as beautiful.
Photo taken in Iskenderun, Turkey.
Posts
4 comments:
"...voters decided that their own money was more important than those expendable unborn."
A pretty snide and cavelier remark from someone who has pretty much everything provided FOR him in the way of housing/food/education/gas, etc.
Um, he has these things provided for him because he's given up his life for the Church. He's surrendered everything to be obedient to the Church, so yes, I think it goes without saying that he would be taken care of after that decision?! He's decided the Church and the Truth of Christ is more important than his own money.
It's like saying a teacher gets a nice paycheck, that covers all his expenses. The implication in the snide comment by "anonymous" is that priests don't do anything socially useful, to earn their upkeep. The cheap personal attack on Father does not address the issue of protecting innocent human life.
Guys..I do believe that the fact that the comment was made by a person that is so believing in their convictions that they "chose" to post it as "Anonymous" speaks volumes.
To call the comment snide, (I'm smiling here.) implies the person was "thinking" AT ALL before they wrote.
The textbook M.O. of a person speaking out of ignorance and cowardice. Hiding behind a moniker of "Anonymous."
We all know, good people of God are often attacked. Especially when championing something truly noble.
I myself won't dignify it with anymore of my typing time, for I fear it has received too much already.
And....I will be thankful for all my life, for people like Father who receive so very little for all they give.
THANK YOU FOREVER!!!!
From the bottom of my heart!!!
Post a Comment