Mother Teresa

January 18, 2019

DAILY READING

1 Corinthians 7:1-7
This weekend’s reading: Revelation 2:8-11

FIELD NOTES
I pray that you will be inspired, challenged and given hope by the stories and words of faithful Christians I share throughout the week.  These Christians were ordinary humans just like you and me, loved and cherished by Christ and confronted by everyday real challenges to living faithful lives.
 
Is anyone else confused by these words of Paul and Judges in today’s readings?  They seem very clear, but condemning of women and somewhat emotionless (in what I would think would be an emotional relationship).  These passages deserve a deeper conversation than a short devotional can offer, but hear these words from Mother Teresa and contemplate that these passages are something other than or at least more than legalistic understandings of marriage and divorce. I believe that is a call for us to be faithful disciples of Christ in every area of our lives:
 
 Mother Teresa said “Our vocation is to belong to Jesus so completely that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.  What you and I must do is nothing less than putting our love for Christ into practice.  The important thing is not how much we accomplish, but how much love we put into our deeds every day.  That is the measure of our love for God.”

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

• How do the words of the Mother Teresa challenge you?
• How do the words of the Mother Teresa inspire you?
• How do you think the words of Mother Teresa apply to the Scripture passages for today?

PRAYER

Lord, we are bound to you by grace, grafted into your kingdom by love.  Since the beginning of time, you have found ways to be present with us, your children. Teach us to embody your loving presence in all that we do this day. Amen.
 
(In part from “Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals”)