Yesterday’s annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington was more interesting than usual. Of course, anytime the President of the United States is present for a religious affair, it’s interesting. This year, though, the attendance was particularly strong, and the keynote address was both fascinating and disappointing. While the President brought what I thought were fairly unremarkable remarks, Hillary Clinton’s talk was much more memorable.

Before I go much further, I will say, in the end, Secretary Clinton went from meaningful refection to meaningless political talking points. Still, what was meaningful, albeit paltry, had, well . . . meaning.

The nugget was her story about Mother Teresa. She candidly recalled how, at the same event in 1994, when Mrs. Clinton was on the dais as First Lady, the Saint of Calcutta used the podium to openly rebuke America (and the Clintons by her glower at them) over our hideous practice of abortion. (Click here to read a transcript.) I was impressed that Hillary would even mention what was then an embarrassment to her and her husband.

Sec. Clinton went on to say that after the speech, Mother Teresa asked to see her privately backstage. “I thought, oh boy, I’m in trouble,” Hillary remembered. That’s when the otherwise electrifying regalement went flat. Instead of telling us more about her possible discomfort (which she did mention in passing), or even recalcitrance, or possible momentary penitence, she instead explained how all Mother Teresa wanted was the First Lady’s help on a charitable project.

Well, knowing Mother Teresa and her incredible internal fortitude, piety and pastoral concern for every impoverished soul on earth, including Hillary’s, it’s hard to believe that’s all there was to the story. Something tells me something was left out–and perhaps rightfully so. After all, if what really happened was a further chastening and the offer a means to prove repentance, that should remain private between confessor and penitent. Whatever transpired didn’t have an immediate effect, nor one to date. As far as anyone can tell, Hillary is still a proponent of abortion, what the Saintly Nun had publicly told her that day in 1994, is “the greatest destroyer of love and peace.”

Still, whatever effect Mother Teresa’s pastoral rebuke had or didn’t have on Hillary, it was enough to be remembered 16 years later, which probably means it will still be remembered well into the future. That gives Hillary an opportunity to still process it and repent, which is always God’s greatest gift to each of us.

Let’s pray for Hillary . . .

Rob +