Make the Kingdom Great, Again

Here in the U.S.A., we're rapidly approaching this year's elections, which includes choosing a new president.  It can't be over quickly enough - as much as I detest politicians, this years top two candidates for both parties are one of a kind.  And not in a positive way.  If you're unfamiliar with US politics - either because you don't live here or you do and you've buried your head in the sand - Donald Trump is running under the slogan, "Make America Great, Again" (or, perhaps, "Make 'Merica Great, Again").

Half a world away, today, the Pope officially canonized Mother Teresa, making her an official saint of the Catholic Church.  I'm not a catholic, nor do I buy into canonization and sainthood from that perspective, but I'm setting that aside for the moment.

I'm sure you can see where I'm going with this, but the contrast couldn't be greater.  One man, campaigning to run as president of what is one of the greatest countries in the world, at least in modern times if not in history, touts a model of greatest based on greed and self-promotion.  (By the way, if you think I say all this as a supporter of Hillary Clinton, you're wrong - I honestly don't know how to choose the lesser of two extremely bad choices this year).  On the other side of the world, whether I agree with the method of recognition or not, a woman is recognized for a life of self-emptying, sacrificial service to her community, her country, and the world.  Mother Teresa was known as the "Saint of the Gutters."

She experienced some fame in her life, but never capitalized on it.  She visited with presidents and other world leaders, she even received the Nobel Peace Prize.  And, yet, it is documented, she did not keep the $192,000 USD, instead asking that it be donated to the poor in India.  She embraced difficulty, hardship, and suffering.  She traveled, not for the adventure and fame, but for the opportunity to serve.  She stood firm in her beliefs, even those difficult and unpopular, like abortion and marriage.  At the time of her death, she was head of a missionary organization with over 4000 members operating in over a hundred countries - but she didn't make a six-figure salary like most chairmen of today's 501c(3) organizations.

The contrast is stark, between Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, etc., and a woman like Mother Teresa.  If the world spends five minutes today reading about her rather than our politicians, business leaders, entertainers, or athletes, then we are better off than we were yesterday.

It reminds me of a couple different teachings of Jesus:

• Luke 22:24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
• Luke 9:46 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48 Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

I don't know that we can find a better modern-day example of Jesus teaching than Mother Teresa.  Whatever my differences with her theological beliefs, her daily self-emptying, compassion, mercy, and love for people all over the world, reminds me what is important in God's Kingdom, my responsibility to my fellow man, and the kinds of people that need to be role models to me and to my children.