a purposeful life

We learn language by putting words to images.  We learn how images have common content and can be represented by the same word.

For the word soul, pre-VII, I would say a fine crystal goblet.  Grace then was a fine wine that could fill the goblet.

Today I envision my soul more like a plastic cup absent-mindedly placed in a microwave - misshapen, with a hole, unable to hold any liquid.

When I meditated on this though, it came to me that this image could have a use.

Consider a woman who grew up Christian.  She leaves home to become a missionary.  She travels far and learns to be a teacher.  She grew in grace and age.  She is moved by the people in the city where she teaches.  She redirects herself into a ministry of presence - to witness to them.

She feeds on the Eucharistic and directs herself to any in need, not to teach or heal but just to accompany them on their journey, whatever and wherever it might lead.

So how does Mother Teresa illustrate the images above.  Each day God poured grace into her, like fine wine.  She chose to let it flow through her to those whom God loves.  She cared not to retain it for her own consolation.

The paradigm for this is Jesus.  He too became battered and misshapen as his journey ended.  He too had holes from which poured his blood to the consolation of the world.

Jesus in the garden and through the next day lived his life darkly, but with purpose to the end.  Like Jesus, Teresa had dark moments but moved through life with purpose.  She can be said to have been an alter Christus, offering herself up for the glory of God.