Robert Lee Fulghum, the American author, wrote: "A person who has profoundly disturbed my peace of mind for a long time is Mother Teresa. She doesn’t even know me, but she continually goes around minding my business…"
Fulghum continues:
"Alongside my mirror is a photograph of this troublesome woman. Each time I look in the mirror at myself, I also look at her face… servant of the poor, sick, and dying. Yet no Shah or President or Prime Minister holds the key to as much power as she possesses. It is the invincible weapons against the evils of this earth; the caring heart; and hers are the everlasting riches of life: the compassionate spirit. And while I wrestle at the impotence of the individual, she goes right on changing the world. While I wish for more power and resources, she uses her power and resources to do what she can now. She upsets me, disturbs me, and shames me."
If an image of Mother Teresa can disturb Robert Fulghum’s peace of mind, how much more should the presence of Christ who lives in our hearts challenge and disturbs our attitudes and values! How much more should His presence upset us enough to change our thinking and behavior.
Jesus, sometimes, can stir us and cause a great deal of discomfort to help us experience real peace.
Sister Teresa experienced this discomfort on a train journey to become the mother of the poor in the streets. Saint Francis of Assisi renounced all his wealth and family inheritance that hindered him from following Jesus.
Saul, a persecutor of Christians, fell off his horse to become Paul, a missionary. Many other saintly people took U-turns in their lives when the presence of Jesus disturbed their peace of mind.
When Jesus, the Prince of Peace, lives in our hearts, His presence challenges us to respond every day to situations. Maybe feeding a hungry person; paying more attention to our prayer life and faithfulness to the sacraments; forgiving someone we have been refusing to forgive, mending our family relationships; the list can go on.
In the process, we may experience a lack of peace momentarily because the needs may cause a little pain, a little discomfort, as part of our little cross to carry.
But, fortunately, the more we respond, the more we experience inner peace, which leads to joy, fulfillment, and happiness.
