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The Paradox of Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa is a symbol of compassionate service yet life within her order was not based on compassion and friendship but on a strict hierarchy, which emphasized total surrender of the mind and will.
Obedience to the rule, the superior and convent timetable were strictly enforced with little flexibility or discussion.
There was an emphasis on confession of sins and faults and on accepting harsh rebukes in silence but not on mutual courtesy and simple kindness. We acted towards each other in a way contrary to the Gospel and then were asked to put up with it for the sake of the Gospel.
We were trained to see Christ in the distressing disguise of the poor but were often thwarted in our response to them if the untidy demands of the destitute clashed with the timetable or the will of the superior.
The root of the word to obey comes from the word to hear or listen. I believe the primary obedience we own is to that conviction which is at the core of who we are – if we obey that we will betray no one.
There is an obedience of cohesion but also an obedience of cowardice and subservience.
Mother Teresa was a teacher, an educator but the sisters were often not trained to undertake their work. Their access to books was restricted to spiritual reading. Literature, books to help them learn the language and culture of a place were not available. They were denied access to newspapers and knowledge of current affairs.
Mother was a woman of faith but her conviction was a cloak to cover her own frightening doubts and questions which she was afraid to face.
Belief helps some people endure unavoidable suffering. Belief motivates us to relieve the sufferings of others as a way of serving God.
Most people hold that suffering is not good in itself but Mother Teresa felt the more we suffered the more we were united to Christ and his divine power.
Poverty was treasured so much within the Society that even when we had donations money was not freely used for the needs of those we served.