PREDGOVOR

Predgovor

BRIAN KOLODIEJCHUK, M.C.

Kjer je ljubezen, tam je Bog je na neki način nadaljevanje knjige matere Terezije: Pridi, bodi moja luč. Slednja predstavlja življenje matere Terezije z vidika njenega odnosa z Bogom in njene predanosti tistim, za katere jo je Bog poklical, da jim služi – najbolj ubogim od ubogih. Poslani, da olajša trpljenje ubogih, je bilo namenjeno, da se poistoveti z njimi in v globini svoje duše izkusi njihovo bolečino in boj. Vztrajno in intenzivno trpljenje je sprejela z junaškim pogumom in zvestobo, kar priča o njeni nadnaravni veri v Boga in izročitvi Njegovi volji. Za mnoge je bilo opogumljajoče razkritje teh skritih vidikov življenja matere Terezije. To je vodilo do ideje, da bi naredili dostopnejši vpogled v njeno notranjost, ki nas lahko nauči, kako ravnati z našimi boji in trpljenji.

Ta objava ni izčrpna antologija učenja matere Terezije. Kjer je Bog, tam je ljubezen poskuša izčrpno predati to, v kar je verjela in kar je učila, v zvezi z nekaterimi temeljnimi vprašanji človeškega življenja, še posebno pomembnimi v današnjem času. Če upoštevamo njen neprenehni stik z ljudmi različnih kultur in okolij, ugotovimo, da ji ni bila nobena življenjska situacija tuja in da je imela veliko priložnosti, da je v različnih tematikah izražala svoje mnenje. Neutrudno je podajala svoje prepričanje, kje najti pravi mir in pravo srečo. Sodobnike je navdihovala z iskrenostjo svojih besed in pristnostjo svojega življenja.

Medtem ko je v knjigi Pridi, bodi moja luč mati Terezija predstavljena bolj kot zgled, ima v tej knjigi v prvi vrsti vlogo učiteljice in vodnice. S praktičnimi in času primernimi nasveti nas mati Terezija usmerja na pot tesnejše povezanosti z Bogom in večje ljubezni do naših bratov in sester. Izbor iz bogastva njenega notranjega življenja je na naslednjih straneh zbran z namenom, da bi nam zgled njene ljubezni in modre besede pomagale, da bi v naš svet prinašali več ljubezni in ga tako naredili za prijetnejši kraj bivanja.

Preface

BRIAN KOLODIEJCHUK, M.C.

Where There Is Love, There Is God is in some ways a sequel to Mother

Teresa: Come Be My Light. The latter presents Mother Teresa's life

from the perspective of her relationship with God and her commitment

to those He called her to serve - the poorest of the poor. Sent to

alleviate the sufferings of the poor, she was to be identified with them,

experiencing, in the depths of her soul, their struggle and pain. She

embraced these persistent and intense sufferings with heroic courage

and fidelity, giving evidence of her extraordinary faith in God and

surrender to His will. The encouragement that the disclosure of this

hidden aspect of Mother Teresa's life has been to many led to the idea

of making more of her insights available as they can teach us much in

dealing with our own struggles and sufferings.

     This publication is not an exhaustive anthology of Mother Teresa's

teaching. Where There Is Love, There Is God attempts, rather, to impart

succinctly what she believed and taught about some of the fundamental

issues of human life, particularly relevant in our times. Given her

constant interaction with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds,

no life situation was foreign to her, and she had many opportunities

to pronounce her views on a wide range of subjects. She unflaggingly

communicated her convictions as to where true peace and happiness

are to be found, inspiring her contemporaries by the sincerity of her

words, and even more by the authenticity of her life.

While she is more of an example and model for us in Mother Teresa:

Come Be My Light, here her role is primarily one of teacher and guide.

Through the practical and timely advice she offers, Mother Teresa sets

us on the path to closer union with God and greater love for our brothers

and sisters. Selections from her wealth of insight are compiled in

the pages that follow with the hope that her example of love and her

words of wisdom will help us to bring more love into our world and

make it a little better place in which to live.