Mother Teresa has been regarded by many, from the denizens of the Catholic Church to the most remote of believers to the most active of humanitarian-atheists as one of the finest examples of charitable humanity that has every graced the face of the Earth.
If it were only that simple, that supported, or even true.
Despite her immense efforts to cater to the needs of the most outcast of people in the most despised and defiled slums of India, she poured out in her journals about a chronic remorse which dogged her every day. What was this chronic pain which she kept silent from the world? What could have caused it? Are there any circumstances or choices in the eventful life of the Saint from Calcutta which would suggest why she was so miserable in spite of the fame and fortune which she harvested for herself and her causes?
Suffice to say that she did a lot for the world, did her work bring her any closer the Kingdom of God?
Personal and private writings expose that frequently she opined in her private correspondence a state of despondent separation that vexed her soul. She felt spiritually dry, isolated from God, unable to hear His voice or discern his spirit.
Yet work she continued to do. Charity she continued to invest in. For fifty years until her death, she referred off and on to the desolate emptiness that gripped her soul.
Perhaps her activities were not as high and mighty, saintly and holy as originally assumed. . .
Some reports indicate that her order of nuns practically venerated her as a god. They prayed to her, revered her with utmost authority, a scandalous set-up which would hinder any evangelist outreach.
Of course, was Mother Teresa's goal the broadening of the Kingdom of Heaven, or just the extension of her own ministry?
According to other reports, she received financial contributions from ruthless dictators like Baby Doc Duvalier, murderers who presided over the massive famine and deaths of their own people, yet congratulated themselves on doling out cash to a small-time operation in other parts of the Third World.
She gave people food, but did she give them the Bread of Life, He who came down from heaven to nourish hunger souls who has spent their labor on that which could never satisfy?
For a woman who did so much, was any of it spiritual activity? Despite the expansion of her influence, apparently she was mostly invested in promoting herself, her outreach, her work, not the Kingdom of Heaven.
Small wonder that Mother Teresa felt so alone, tired, and empty in spite of all the toil that she put herself and her staff through.
We are not called to do, but to be. We are not called to earn our salvation, but to receive this most precious of gifts from the One who died for us. To this day, believers (true or nominal) still insist themselves into work, work, work, as if they can do anything for God, the One who has made everything, done everything, and wants to give everything: "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32) It cannot be emphasized enough. . . every person who seeks Jesus must accept that he has nothing. We can only bring our lost state, our poverty to the Cross, where He blessed us with His Forgiveness, His faith, and His redeeming power, all through His Holy Spirit. Without Him, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Mother Teresa is the quintessential example of Works-Righteousness, which is an offense to God the Father (Is. 64:6). Like many adherents to religion (yet not to Christ himself), people still think that they can (or at least that they have to) work their way into God' good graces. This is nothing more than the debasement of the perfect righteousness demanded by the law and despising the precious blood of Jesus Christ, whose death is the only propitiation for our sins.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom. 8:3-4)
It is Satanic deception and arrogant folly that anyone can work their way into the perfection demanded by God's immutable law.
Based on the hectic efforts of the worker from Calcutta in contrast to the private torture that she attempted to cope with, Mother Teresa obviously confronted the inescapable reality that we cannot earn, nor deserve by our own merit, the peaceable and peaceful Love which accords every believer salvation and sanctification.
Rather than being a saint, Mother Teresa was another scrap of sorry humanity, a dreg who placed her own power, position, and prominence ahead of the saving work of Jesus Christ. Rather than being canonized, she should be demonized as one more self-deceived presumptuous Pharisee.
These scriptures underscore the predicament of placing our works ahead of the Finished Work of Jesus Christ:
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. 16:26)
Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20)
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. (Luke 17:10) The significance of this verse matters in that we do nothing apart from the power and permission of God Himself. We cannot take upon ourselves the glory or congratulations for anything that we accomplish for the Kingdom of Heaven.
For Jesus Himself exhorted his disciples shortly before His death:
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (Johnn 15:5)
Mother Teresa did not abide in Jesus; hence, she could not claim to sense His life-giving, loving, enriching presence in her life. Sadly, she has been numbered with the sadly (and damned) deceived:
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matt. 7:22-23)
A harsh judgment on a woman so widely renowned? Hardly!
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Cor. 13:3)
And
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Heb. 11:6)
Mother Teresa never promoted the Person and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. She did not seek Him from whom all blessings flow. Thus was she in no wise rewarded by the one necessary longing of the human soul.
It is not small matter that Jesus instructed His followers as the one necessary thing:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:42) What is that needful thing that Jesus speaks of? Resting at His feet, receiving life and truth from Him, which in turn empowers to minister to a dying world. In context, Jesus is gently admonishing the busy sister Martha to follow Mary's example.
Would that Mother Teresa had done the same thing. The sad fate of the servant of Calcutta should guide those who strive to be servants of Christ instead of being served by Christ, who in turn works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil. 2:13)
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