As I mentioned last week, a paperback that had been sitting on my bookshelf for years, entitled Thirsting for God: A Yearbook of Prayers, Meditations, & Anecdotes of Mother Teresa, caught my eye. “Read me!” it seemed to say, and so I did. In fact, I scarfed down in seven days what was designed to be digested in daily doses over the course of a year. I was digging for diamonds, hoping that Mother Teresa’s words might point me in the right direction in my pursuit of peace.

I was not disappointed! Here are some gems that I mined from this book:

March 4
Jesus spent forty days in prayer before beginning his public life. He often retired alone and spent the night in silene and prayer.
The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is peace.
Let us provide each other an atmosphere of peace and quiet which will facilitate prayer, work, study, and rest.

May 14
It will console our Lord and make our mother Mary very happy if we try to understand the importance of obedience. Obedience to the will of God begets in our soul unfailing peace, inward joy, and close union with him. Let us renew our commitment to this obedience at the cross of Jesus… acknowledging that we will not take even one step except in obedience.

August 18
Our Blessed Mother calls us to fast and do penance and pray. Let us be faithful to these things if we are sincere in our desire to bring souls to Jesus. Pray, fast, and do penance for priests, to help them be holy and bring souls to Jesus.

September 18
Our works of love are nothing but works of peace. Let us do them with greater love and efficiency.

September 20
We never think of connecting violence with our tongues. But the first weapon, the most cruel weapon, is the tongue. Examine what part your tongue has played in creating peace or violence. We can really wound a person, we can kill a person, with our tongue.

December 30
Let our gratitude be our strong resolution to quench the thirst of Jesus by lives of real charity. Love for Jesus in prayer, love for Jesus in your brothers and sisters, love for Jesus in the poorest of the poor. Nothing else.

So, what will I take away from Mother Teresa’s words? How will I apply them to my life?

First, using the transitive property… I’m a math teacher… I conclude that silence eventually leads to peace. (March 4)

Second, I understand that willing obedience to God leads to peace and joy. (May 14)

Third, if I’m serious about bringing souls to Jesus, I need to pray, fast, and do penance. (August 18)

Fourth, I need to examine what part my tongue has played in creating either peace or violence. (September 20)

Fifth, I can help to quench the thirst of Jesus by a life of real charity…by works of love that are really works of peace. (September 18 and December 30)

👣 Silence.
👣 Willing obedience.
👣 Prayer, fasting, penance.
👣 A gracious tongue.
👣 Works of charity.

Stepping stones on my way to a peaceful heart. ❤️