The recent canonization of Saint Mother Teresa has inspired me to publish a post which has sat in my ‘draft’ file for quite some time.  My spiritual director (whom I adore) encouraged me to publish previously, but also left me with the encouragement that God would provide the peace necessary at the appointed time.

I feel blessed that God’s whisper, and the peace only He can provide, came through the message of a multifaceted woman who made an indelible impact on untold numbers of people during her life.

“Each of us is merely a small instrument. When you look at the inner workings of electrical things, often you see small and big wires, new and old, cheap and expensive lined up. Until the current passes through them there will be no light. That wire is you and me. The current is God. We have the power to let the current pass through us, use us, produce the light of the world. Or we can refuse to be used and allow darkness to spread.” Saint Mother Teresa

Previously written….

“What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous input of small drops of oil. What are these drops of oil in our lamps? They are the small things of daily life: faithfulness, small words of kindness, a thought for others, our way of being silent, of looking, of speaking, and of acting.” Saint Mother Teresa

Remaining silent through the difficulties of life *we have no control over, as my spiritual mentors have shown me, is a powerful exercise of trust!  I wish I could say I was perfect at this or that I embrace the opportunity to suffer; however,  St. Gemma Galgani, St. Gerard Majella, Saint Mother Teresa (recently canonized a Saint on September 4th 2016) all have lovingly shown me, through the examples of their ‘life-lived-out,’ what it means to believe, “Pain is never permanent.” – St. Teresa of Avila

“”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I must attest that there is always great peace restored through the practice of this form of Silence.  

Because

Only He truly knows the depth of it all.

Only He can offer the necessary strength to remain weak.

Only He can bring  joy to the words, “it is finished.“

The month of August is one of my favorite Internal Control of the Soul examens, as written by Saint Faustina.  And because of this it is perfect that “I cry out to You my God,” (who already know the answer to all the many questions) and release what has laid silent …once & forever;

with a still, quiet, tranquil voice

into Your ear because I do trust…

“Jesus, You know.”

Hush……

as I will only say this once,

“All we knew how to do was to love.“

And this scared them.

They didn’t know how to receive it.

They didn’t understand it was a gift.

They were afraid of an expectation to reciprocate.

And this frightened them most.

For how do you give something without measure

when you have already portioned it out?

So instead they wrapped up

blame,

games,

deceit,

lies,

slander,

&

mockery

to be handed out

in love’s place.

And yet,

“All we knew how to do was to love.”

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13

His cross was never requested.

We never asked to be the ones who would help to carry it.

And still,

“All we knew how to do was to love.”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” Matthew 5: 43-45

And if you were to ask us,

“What was the deepest wound suffered at the pillar of condemnation?”

It was when they proclaimed to the crowd of listeners they arranged:

“They hide behind their faith!”

 

For to us

our faith is not, what we do, but rather…

Who we are trying to be.

Because…

All we know Him to be…

is love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

 

And so it is that we continue to praise & adore You, that through Your mercy & grace

the guile has ended

and all that remains is this one final thing to say…

“All we will continue to do is to love.”

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.”

John 14:27

“Peace begins with a smile.“

Saint Mother Teresa

The end.

these 3hugs&blessings go out to:

all those who carry a cross of judgement in this earthly world,

May you remember how loved by God (and countless others) you are, especially when the cross becomes its heaviest.

to all those who stand by jeering in the crowd, watching the cross go by, that Mercy itself restore their peace when the scales fall from their eyes,

“Father, forgive them they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34

and an EXTRA-special hug to those who know never to remain silent in the face of evil for *remaining silent in the face of injustice is the same as supporting it. 

“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”  John 3:20

“Suffering will never be completely absent from our lives. So don’t be afraid of suffering. Your suffering is a great means of love, if you make use of it, especially if you offer it for peace in the world.” Saint Mother Teresa