Today at the Vatican, Pope Francis canonized Mother Teresa of Calcutta as the newest Saint of the Catholic Church. Her charitable works have been noted in history and she made her community and the world a better place. Her life was focused on helping the poor and needy which has inspired many to do the same.
At church this morning my Sunday school class said this prayer that is attributed to her.
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful,
you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank,
people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building,
someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness,
they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today,
people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have,
and it may never be enough.
Give the best you’ve got anyway.
You see,
in the final analysis it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.
I believe the Holy Trinity is about God being expressed in three different forms both spiritual, physical and perhaps in creation. This is a tough topic for clergy folks to talk about but alas its still there. Father, Son, Holy Spirit can speak to us in different ways. Three in one is a mystery but that helps us use our minds as well as our hearts when encountering the creator of the universe. To my fellow Anglicans/Episcopalians and other Christians around the world may Trinity Sunday speak to you in a profound way.
On this Easter weekend I am thinking about what I am called to do as a follower of Jesus. To me the most important thing I can do is love thy neighbor as myself. There are so many people who display their faith in such a proud and boastful way. I don’t think that is what Christ had in mind. As a believer I am told to pray in solitude and to fast without letting others know I am doing it.
The Tony Burgess Blog 