Feb. 7-13
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
World Day for Consecrated Life
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" "Here I am," I said, "send me!"(Isaiah)
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me." (St. Paul to the Corinthians)
Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."..."they left everything and followed him." (Luke)
How appropriate it is that on the World Day for Consecrated Life we hear readings from Sacred Scripture that are rich with the theme of "call". Like Isaiah, St. Peter and St. Paul, women and men religious throughout the world feel deeply humbled and unworthy of God's call. They realize that it is God's grace at work within them that ceaselessly transforms them and enables them to serve. Some devote their lives to contemplative prayer. Others give witness to their wholehearted commitment to Christ through various apostolic works such as writing, preaching, teaching, healing, counseling, etc. In each instance, however, those in consecrated life believe that building God's Reign is God's own work.
As we celebrate the World Day for Consecrated Life, we also recall that the Church has initiated an Apostolic Visitation of some women religious in the US. Its purpose is to encourage vocations and to assure a better future for religious life. Truly, this has been the hope and the prayer of women religious throughout the centuries! Even as they have prayed and served the Church tirelessly, especially in ministries that others might not willingly undertake, they have invited young women to experience the joy of their life in community as consecrated women.
As faithful disciples of Christ who are inserted in the Catholic Church, women and men religious praise and thank God for their call. Like Isaiah, Paul and Peter, they respond daily: "Here I am. Send me!" Let us bless the Holy Spirit who continues to enrich the Church and the world with the gift of consecrated life!
Prayer: Loving God, we trust in your love and compassion for your people.
Hear our prayers and grace us with your blessings. We seek to do your will through the power of your Spirit, now and always. Amen.
Sister Sally Ann
January 31-February 6
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
God is love.
I've heard this since I was in first grade, but it wasn't until I became a Sister that I learned this isn't about God. It's about me. In Sunday's Gospel, Jesus invites people into a new way of living. Rather than living by laws, they should live by love. Jesus' prophetic invitation is to see the loving reign of God. Jesus' audience may not have been able to hear or accept his message, but we should.
In the first reading from Corinthians, we hear that love is patient, kind and endures all things. Love is transforming.
I reflect on my experience of entering a religious community. It is a journey that has been far from easy and comfortable, yet people tell me how happy and peaceful I look. This puzzles me because I don't see it myself and I certainly have felt much stress and anxiety as part of the process. Yet, a transformation has taken place and I can only explain it by saying I found God's love and have made it a part of me. Once I let God in, the world looked like a different place to me. A happier, more welcoming place.
Love needs to be shared. I can't keep it inside; it just bursts out. And, sharing God's love is the best way to make it grow. It's a great way to live. In the past, the words "God is love" were just words. Now, they've become a lived reality.
Reflect on the words from our second Reading: "If I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."
What are you willing to give up to make more room for God in your life?
How have you shared God's love today?
Sister Jean Peerenboom
|
