Mother Teresa - Love: A Fruit Always in Season

Love: A Fruit Always in Season

Daily Meditations
From the Words of

MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA

Selected and Edited by
DOROTHY S. HUNT

IGNATIUS PRESS SAN FRANCISCO

Cover photograph by Michael Collopy
Cover design by Marcia Ryan

With ecclesiastical approval
1987 Ignatius Press, San Francisco
All rights reserved
ISBN 978-0-89870-167-8
Library of Congress catalogue number 86-81472
Printed in the United States of America

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind (Dt 6:5).

This is the commandment of our great God, and He cannot command the impossible. Love is a fruit in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. Everyone can reach this love through meditation, spirit of prayer, and sacrifice, by an intense inner life.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta

First Sunday of Advent

Second Sunday of Advent

Third Sunday of Advent

Fourth Sunday of Advent

First Sunday after Christmas

Second Sunday after Christmas

First Sunday after Epiphany

Second Sunday after Epiphany

Third Sunday after Epiphany

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Sixth Sunday after Epiphany

Ash Wednesday

First Sunday of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Passion Sunday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday

Easter Sunday

Second Sunday of Easter

Third Sunday of Easter

Fourth Sunday of Easter

Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Seventh Sunday of Easter

The Day of Pentecost
The Visitation

First Sunday after Pentecost

Second Sunday after Pentecost

Third Sunday after Pentecost

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost

Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost

Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Twenty-Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

This is a book about loveGods love for us and our need to love one another. The words of the daily meditations are Mother Teresas, but her inspiration comes from the One who is love.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta and the Order which she founded, the Missionaries of Charity, are living examples of Gods love in action. In their work with the poor around the world, they show us the joy of loving, of seeing God in every person, of being one with God through prayer and sacrifice and service. Mother Teresa reminds us that we are all created in His image to love and to be loved.

When I first asked Mother Teresa in January 1986 for permission to compile this book of daily meditations, she sent a message to me through Sr. M. Frederick, M.C.: Tell her to make it a prayer. I have tried to make this book a prayer. It is through prayer that we are brought closer to God, to His love for us and to His love within us. Everyone can reach this love through meditation, spirit of prayer, and sacrifice, by an intense inner life, says Mother Teresa. It is my prayer that you who read her words in these daily meditations will be inspired to share the joy of loving with everyone you meet, first in your own home, then in your own neighborhood, school or work place each and every day of the year.

The material for this book has come from many sources: books written about Mother Teresa, other books of her meditations and reflections, interviews, talks given by Mother Teresa and unpublished material supplied by the Missionaries of Charity and Co-Workers of Mother Teresa. I am thankful for the contributions so many have made in sharing Mother Teresas words and works of love.

In addition, I would like especially to thank Sr. M. Sylvia, M.C., for her help in supplying material, encouragement and prayers; Fr. Steve Meyer, C.Ss.R., and Rev. James Gaderlund for their assistance in choosing themes consistent with the liturgical year; Frances M. Hunt, whose knowledge of Scripture was an invaluable aid; and Michael Collopy, Joan Daschbach and the Missionary of Charity Brothers for their contributions of photographs.

Finally, I wish to express my appreciation to my family for their constant love and support and to dedicate this book to them: to my husband, Jim, and to our two children, Julie and Daniel, whose love makes every season beautiful for me.

Dorothy S. Hunt

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. They that dwell in the land-of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.... For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given (Is 9:2, 6).

What matters is faith that makes its power felt through love (Gal 5:6).

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

A gift of God

Faith is a gift of God. Without it there would be no life. And our work, to be fruitful, and to be all for God, and to be beautiful, has to be built on faithfaith in Christ, who has said, I was hungry, I was naked, I was sick and I was homeless, and you ministered to Me. On these words of His all our work is based (GG, 15).

MONDAY

To see Christ in the poor

We need the eyes of deep faith to see Christ in the broken body and dirty clothes under which the most beautiful One among the sons of men hides. We shall need the hands of Christ to touch those bodies wounded by pain and suffering.

How pure our hands must be if we have to touch Christs Body as the priest touches Him in the appearance of bread at the altar. With what love and devotion and faith he lifts the sacred Host! These same feelings we too must have when we lift the body of the sick poor (LC, 109).

TUESDAY

Faith, a gospel of love

Our holy faith is nothing but a gospel of love, revealing to us Gods love for men and claiming in return mans love for God (LC, 102).

WEDNESDAY

Become a child in Gods hands

Unless you become a little child... I am sure you will understand beautifully everything if you would only become a little child in Gods hands. Your longing for God is so deep, and yet He keeps Himself away from you. He must be forcing Himself to do so, because He loves you so muchas to give Jesus to die for you and for me. Christ is longing to be your Food. Surrounded with fullness of living Food, you allow yourself to starve. The personal love Christ has for you is infinite; the small difficulty you have regarding His Church is finite. Overcome the finite with the infinite. Christ has created you because He wanted you. I know what you feelterrible longing with dark emptiness. And yet, He is the one in love with you (SB, 142).

Next page