The same Mother Theresa who chastised, to their faces, the prior President and First Lady for their support of abortion.
This is a very good example of the appropriate way and timing for preaching.
Mother did this a great deal. If the opportunity was right, she said what she needed to say, otherwise, she witnessed through her life.
There was another situation that’s similar. I can’t remember what the convocation was, but it was for women leaders in Europe. Mother was in attendance. Two days later, she left, before the gathering was over. She made it clear that she was not there to debate abortion and birth control. She was there to represent the poor and crucified Christ. She spoke her piece on abortion and birth control and went back to India.
When the soul enters the inner chambers of the spiritual castle, it is easy for the contemplative to act this way. One can speak according to the mind of Christ, without disturbing the inner peace and silence of the soul.
St. Ignatius was very clear on this spiritual teaching. “Never act when the emotions are stirring.” This is not the exact quote, but I don’t have it in front of me.
St. Francis taught something similar, “Be an instrument of peace.”
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton taught the importance of preacing truth that rose out of contemplation. She was most interesting, because she was neither a nun nor a monastic; but she unerstood the importance of prayer and contemplation as a preface to evangelization.
We, in today’s world, need to recapture the spirit of contemplation that is such a rich part of Church tradition, before we preach. In our high powered world, where everything is so fast and we are spoiled my instant everything, we tend to adopt a “microwave spirituality.”
Cardinal O’Malley said it best when he had to deal with the question of adoptions and homosexual couples in Boston. He said, “It is a challenge.” He understands that change is not always instant, but a process which is which takes time to change.
One thing that I have observed in some posts is the anger that people bring to the spiritual life. In order to conquer sinfulness in the world, we must approach the world without anger, with inner silence. This requires constant contemplation. Otherwise, the challenge will not only burn us out and frustrate us, but the message is clouded by our emotions.
There is a difference between emotiions and passion. Emotions can be irrational and they are transitory. Passion is a love affair between the soul and God.
The passionate apostle is like Paul, Mother Teresa, Francis, Mother Angelica, John Paul II and many others. He or she is at peace and speaks truth peacefully.
There is an interview with Mother Teresa on
youtube.com. She’s speaking on the brotherhood of man. She says “It makes no difference if someone is Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Communist or Atheist. We are all brothers and sisters, because Jesus Christ is in all of us.” If we carefully examie it, we see two important details. She’s telling non-believers that they are part of Christ, whether they believe it or not. Secondly, she says that it makes no difference. Regardless of whether one believes this fundamental truth, it’s not going to go away. However, the listener is stunned into silence by her gentleness.
Such gentleness comes from years of contemplation. Sisters, nuns, brothers, monks, and priests are not the only ones called to a life of contemplation. All people are. This is the first step to do combat sin.
Contemplation is the Christian’s boot camp.
Those of us who know the difference between right and wrong, must be contemplative first and preachers second. St. Dominic taught this to his Order of Preachers, both the religoius members and the secular members. This is probably why they are so successful at their preaching.
We should hate any form of sin, but we must take the anger out of it and infuse our ministry with contemplation.
