Aug 30, 2010 Monday: Novena Day 5 Mass for Missionaries of Charity
The following homily was given on the 5th Day of the novena masses for Mother Teresa (Aug. 30, 2010 Monday) at their convent chapel located at St. Agnes Catholic Church.
Click to hear the audio homily
Fifth Day theme: Trust Jesus Blindly
"Ask for the grace to have an unshakeable trust in the God's power and love for you and for all."
Excerpt From Imitation of Christ, "On Bearing with the Defects of Others."
There will always be defects in ourselves or others which we cannot correct. These we must simply tolerate until God in His goodness sees fit to change things. After all, this may be the best possible way to prove our patience, without which our good qualities are not worth much.
Nevertheless, you must pray earnestly that God in His mercy will help you to bear these impediments with patience.
If once or twice you have warned someone and that person does not comply, do not contend further with such a one, but leave all in the hands of God, that His will be done and that He be glorified in all His servants, for He knows well how to turn evil into good.
Learn how to be patient in enduring the faults of others, remembering that you yourself have many which others have to put up with. If you cannot make yourself be what you would like, how can you expect another to be as you would like? We wish to see perfection in others, but do not correct our own failures. Jesus calls for reconciliation before sacrifice--"Therefore, when offering your gift at the altar, if you should remember that you have treated your brother badly, leave your gift there at the altar and immediately go to be reconciled with your brother" (Matt 5:23f).
We want to have others strictly reprimanded for their offenses, but we will not be reprimanded ourselves. We are inclined to think the other person has too much liberty, but we ourselves will not put up with any restraint. There must be rules for everyone else, but we must be given free rein. It is seldom that we consider our neighbor equally with ourselves. If everyone was perfect, what would we have to endure for love of God?
God wills us to learn to bear one another's burdens. No one is without faults, no one without a cross, no one self-sufficient, and no one wise enough all alone. Therefore, we must support, comfort, and assist one another, instructing and admonishing one another in all charity.
Adversity is the best test of virtues. The occasions of sin do not weaken anyone; on the contrary, they show that person's true worth.
Click to hear the audio homily
Fifth Day theme: Trust Jesus Blindly
"Ask for the grace to have an unshakeable trust in the God's power and love for you and for all."
Excerpt From Imitation of Christ, "On Bearing with the Defects of Others."
There will always be defects in ourselves or others which we cannot correct. These we must simply tolerate until God in His goodness sees fit to change things. After all, this may be the best possible way to prove our patience, without which our good qualities are not worth much.
Nevertheless, you must pray earnestly that God in His mercy will help you to bear these impediments with patience.
If once or twice you have warned someone and that person does not comply, do not contend further with such a one, but leave all in the hands of God, that His will be done and that He be glorified in all His servants, for He knows well how to turn evil into good.
Learn how to be patient in enduring the faults of others, remembering that you yourself have many which others have to put up with. If you cannot make yourself be what you would like, how can you expect another to be as you would like? We wish to see perfection in others, but do not correct our own failures. Jesus calls for reconciliation before sacrifice--"Therefore, when offering your gift at the altar, if you should remember that you have treated your brother badly, leave your gift there at the altar and immediately go to be reconciled with your brother" (Matt 5:23f).
We want to have others strictly reprimanded for their offenses, but we will not be reprimanded ourselves. We are inclined to think the other person has too much liberty, but we ourselves will not put up with any restraint. There must be rules for everyone else, but we must be given free rein. It is seldom that we consider our neighbor equally with ourselves. If everyone was perfect, what would we have to endure for love of God?
God wills us to learn to bear one another's burdens. No one is without faults, no one without a cross, no one self-sufficient, and no one wise enough all alone. Therefore, we must support, comfort, and assist one another, instructing and admonishing one another in all charity.
Adversity is the best test of virtues. The occasions of sin do not weaken anyone; on the contrary, they show that person's true worth.
