Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu was born in 1910 to parents, Nikola and Drana Bojaxhiu in Skopje, a Balkan city in Macedonia. The youngest of 3 children, Gonxha was only eight years old when she lost her father, leaving her mother Drana to shoulder the responsibility of parenting alone. The sudden death of her father left the family financially burdened. Nevertheless, her mother worked tirelessly to provide for the family.

On an occasion, Drana invited the city’s poor and destitute to dine with her family. Drana told her daughter Gonxha, “…Never eat a single mouthful unless you are sharing it with others.” Gonxha asked her mother who all these people eating with them were. Her mother replied, “Some of them are our relations, but all of them are our people.” From then on Gonxha developed a heart for helping the needy.

She would always be Gonxha Agnes to her family, but to the world, we would come to know her as Mother Teresa.

The famous chapter Isaiah 61, when quoted and preached is understood to be speaking of Jesus Christ. Christ himself validated its fulfilment in the synagogue after he read the same passage from the Torah (Luke 4:16-21). Jesus came to demonstrate and fulfil Isaiah 61 but also, he passed those responsibilities to his disciples as well. By sending the Holy Spirit to the disciples on Pentecost (Acts 2), they became qualified and therefore met the first criteria of Isaiah 61, The spirit of the Lord is upon me.

We too have inherited the responsibilities of Isaiah 61

For every person that claims the banner of Christianity, of whom the Holy Spirit is upon, Isaiah 61 has become your responsibility as well. The overarching goal is to acquaint as many as possible to Jesus Christ. To speak always of his saving grace that he provided through his sacrifice on the cross. We are called to help those in need and comfort those who suffer. Everyday for a Christian is a day to live in sacrifice and servitude to those around us. We no longer live for ourselves. We live for Christ.

Therefore, when the world mocks, Christians show kindness. Where the world condemns, Christians point the path to redemption. As Mother Teresa would say, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”