Recent absurd pronouncements regarding Mother Teresa are a result of misconceptions people have about Christianity. Many people, including some Christians, think that the Christian religion is chiefly about rituals and attending church services. Christianity implies that adherents follow in the footsteps of Christ, who by word and example taught people to love God and one’s fellowmen wholeheartedly. True Christians should not only think about themselves and their family but should also help the needy whenever possible.
Our priests and nuns, the world over, give us the example of sacrificing their lives, engaging in charitable works merely for the love of God. Those who do not understand Christianity will impute other motives to these works of charity like aiming for conversions. In the past, some malicious politicians have even stated that Mother Teresa sacrificed her life for the poorest of the poor in order to gain fame.
A. John Fernandes, Margao
