"Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness"

Mother Teresa’s statement, “Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness,” speaks to the profound moral and spiritual responsibility attached to our words. At the core of her message is the belief that words possess immense power, they can comfort, uplift, guide, and heal, but also mislead, wound, and estrange. For Mother Teresa, the “light of Christ” represents qualities such as love, truth, compassion, hope, and mercy. She suggests that when our words are not infused with these qualities, when they lack the illumination and guidance that stem from Christ’s example, they do not remain neutral. Instead, they contribute to confusion, division, suffering, and spiritual blindness, metaphorically described as “darkness.”

This perspective rejects the idea that indifference or silence can be benign. Remaining neutral or failing to speak kindness, encouragement, and truth actively allows negativity and despair to grow in ourselves and others. Moreover, careless, harsh, or deceptive words actively pull us away from the ideals of Christian love and service. Even conversations that ignore or neglect the needs of others, that perpetuate gossip or selfishness, are subtly increasing the isolation and pain in the world. Mother Teresa’s words call for a continual awareness of the impact of our speech, urging us not merely to avoid evil or aggression, but to proactively infuse our interactions with the spirit of Christ.

Furthermore, she reminds us that speech is more than communication; it is a reflection of the heart and a vessel for light or darkness. By inspiring us to speak in ways that echo the light of Christ, she challenges us to be channels of goodness, hope, and healing in everyday encounters. Each word becomes an opportunity to lessen darkness or, if neglected, to deepen it. Her wisdom calls for conscious, loving, and purposeful use of language, rooted in the transformative example of Christ.