I WAS telling my close friend about his personal qualities. “I admire your intelligence, prayerfulness, and convivial nature,” I said. “But what I admire most about you is your genuine generosity and compassion to others, especially the poor and the weak.” He looked and smiled at me and then kept quiet. He probably did no expect to hear this remark.
One may be intelligent and may have the best social skills, but if he or she does not translate these gifts into concrete acts of kindness and real concern for others, then they do not mean much. The grandeur of a person’s life does not impress many of us, unless that person shows real compassion to others and assist them with their needs.
This past Wednesday, we recalled and celebrated again the life and ministry of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Those of us adults who were born in this generation are lucky to have known this modern-day saint during her lifetime. Her life of extreme generosity and poverty impressed us.
We remember her radical way of ministering to and living with poor of Calcutta—the street beggars, the malnourished children, the dying and abandoned old men and women. Teresa of Calcutta showed us, without doubt, a life of radical discipleship: of giving all of one’s self for the poor.
One of the extreme ways on how Teresa of Calcutta and her Religious community demonstrated a life of poverty was their use of habit. Teresa allowed herself and her sisters to use two saris only, which cost about a dollar each. They taught by their example that it is possible to keep clean with one change of clothing.
Another story that speaks about the generous poverty of Sister Teresa and her community is one about a rich person who wanted to donate $500,000 to their community for the security of their Order. Sister Teresa turned down the donation because she believed God would provide for her community’s future. She would rather use any donated money for the poor of her times.
Many people may not understand the life that Teresa of Calcutta and her sisters professed. Yet, the Scriptures tell us that the some people choose to be foolish in the eyes of the world to glorify God.
Boundless generosity to the poor marks the life and ministry of Teresa and her community. The present generation of Sisters of her community must be living and ministering in the same way.
The Lord still calls those of us of us who are not embracing the radical life of poverty and generosity of Sister Teresa to have boundless hearts, to be genuinely generous to others. After all, it’s what most impressive for many people; not the looks, the genius, or the piousness but the compassionate and giving heart. Amen.
* * *
Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
