A question that author R. Rohr asked Mother Teresa's community has struck me. He asked those who knew her, "Why did she not speak out against social injustice? Why did she not point out the evil systems and evil people that are chewing up the poor? Why did she not use some of her pull to call the world & church to much-need reform? (paraphrased)"
"Mother Teresa felt that if she took sides, or played the firebrand, that she could not be what Jesus had told her to be -- love to and for all. She told them that if she started correcting and pointing out "sinners" she could no longer be an instrument of love and reconciliation for them. Humiliated and defensive people do not change."
I could relate to this in terms of taking moral stances on such issues of gays/lesbians. Is their lifestyle right or wrong? Does it matter? When the call is to love, doesn't the "right & wrong lens" seem pretty elementary?
Today as I was watching football, I was disgusted at how macho the players seem. My thoughts were saying, "they sure think they are something!"
I have called you to Love.
Next, I saw a commercial exploiting women's bodies as they danced explicitly..."how lame! Gosh, they are searching for love in all the wrong places!"
I have called you to Love.
Somehow I have come to believe that it's ok to belittle those on television. Afterall, they're not real people right?!! Often if I am watching a show like Survivor or other reality shows I judge them rather harshly...
...ah yes, the call to love is so much bigger than I ever imagined...
