An ancient mystic for modern goodmakers

Saint Teresa of Ávila was a 16th Century nun and mystic that refused to settle for a shallow faith. She reminds us:

“Christ has no body now but yours.
No hands, no feet on earth but yours.”

For our work, these words can take on particular weight.

They mean that the problems we see are not accidents.
The injustice that troubles us is not random.
The idea that won’t let us sleep may be a summons.

If Christ has no hands but ours, then the systems we long to see changed will not shift on their own.

If He has no feet but ours, then someone must walk toward the margins, strategically, courageously, persistently.

If He has no voice but ours, then someone must speak into rooms where capital, policy, and power are shaped.

This is not about ego.
It is about participation.

The work that we do can sometimes feel like carrying too much: responsibility, payroll, impact metrics, fundraising targets. Teresa’s words remind us that our work is not merely operational — it is incarnational.

The spreadsheet can be sacred.
The grant application can be an offering.
The hiring decision can be an act of justice.
The product or program can become a channel of dignity.

To embody Christ in enterprise means:

• Designing initiatives with the vulnerable in mind.

• Choosing long-term good over short-term gain.

• Refusing to compromise human dignity for efficiency.

• Building structures that reflect mercy and fairness.

It also means remembering we are not saviors. We are participants.

Christ works through willing hands, not perfect ones.
Through courageous steps, not flawless strategies.
Through faithful presence, not guaranteed outcomes.

So the question is not simply, “Will this venture succeed?”
But also, “Is this how love wants to take form through me?”

May we build with integrity.
Lead with humility.
Persevere with hope.

And may our endeavours become places where Christ’s compassion is made tangible, through our hands, our feet, and our daily work.