Your Life Will Be Demanded From You
Our faith demands our life–different depending on one’s stage in life, yet just as crucial regardless of its specificity. This word ‘demand’ requires from us an obligation, a responsibility, a duty that must be fulfilled. Everyone–baptized or not, Christian or not, young or not–needs to discern how we are being called to put into practice the Truths we proclaim. So, what then do we believe? Have I succumb to the lies that I must be self-sufficient and trust only in me, myself and I? Do I believe that this world is all I have and so I will do what I have to in order to succeed according to the world’s standard? Or do I trust in God, in the Supernatural Being that existed before me and will exist after me? An abandonment to Divine Providence must be accepted here: one consents all control to Him who knows our every need and want, and will satisfy us; He will fulfill us, He will bless us in abundance. If that level of faith is what I hold as my foundation then I have nothing to fear–my free will is upheld because our Merciful Lord ‘heals as He wounds’ (my mind is blown every time I pray these words–Friday Daytime Prayer Ant. 3, Week II).
God loves us so much that He chose to partake in our flesh and blood so that we may share in His Divnity. He accepted death willingly, so that we, who though so undeserving, may have eternal life. When you love, you sacrifice, you suffer, you live for the other. This comes at a cost to us; yet when authentic, it doesn’t compare to the joy received (not always tangibly felt) but known in the depths of one’s soul. If we live what we proclaim, then the demand we are invited to take ownership of is nothing less than counter-cultural. I have to ‘labor’ in virtue. When I want to give up, I must fight. When pain has gripped my every bone, I choose to offer the ache (which is very real) for another. I never compromise what I know is true.
Yet we live in a broken world (which really only means we are constantly reminded of our humble need for a Savior and that we are not it). Every moment is not always going to be to our liking. Decisions might be made that we disagree with or that may even oppose some of the previous statements of belief which we claimed as foundational. Our life is even more demanded of us at this point. If I am confronted with opposition, I can’t quit and concede to falsity. I reject those lies which seem to challenge me, but I remain firm and confident that Who I live to serve and love is: with me, guiding me, protecting me, directing me, sustaining me. I keep trusting especially when all feelings of emotional consolation have left and actively wait in hope.
My brothers and sisters, no matter the present situation in your life, in the world, at your job–your life is being demanded from you. Are you willing to put forth the effort and live with an intensity beyond understanding. We will not comprehend the why to every what, but can we willingly choose the present even though everything seems unknown. God delights in our striving, so fall into His arms, close your eyes and rest assured that you are loved, you are His, and He will NEVER let you go! I told my sister the other day, sometimes God throws us up in the air and plays catch with us, but we always come back down right into His extended arms of love.
I Love Fall!
One of the perks of being up north for a Florida girl is getting to experience actual Fall weather. I love the colors of the leaves as they change. I have been so fascinated by how quickly and intensely this happens! This past Tuesday all 6 of us novices and our Madre took a much needed outing to take advantage of this cool and beautiful weather. Three of our seminarian friends graciously guided and hiked with us at a local park. One of those three was just ordained a deacon on October 22, so he was all decked out in his new clerics….and his Cleveland Indians gear.
When we arrived at the park, I was struck by the sea of fall colors. This was definitely a nice change from the inner city environment of the west side of Cleveland. After exploring the abandoned “castle” (http://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/Main/Squires-Castle.aspx), we began our hike up some big hills (Note: remember, our habits are white, so I felt like a rebel or something). Initially, there was a well marked path as we ascended. Two of my Sisters decided to take a more challenging route as the rest of us followed the path that was covered with red, orange, and yellow leaves. At one point these two Sisters got a little stuck, but our newly ordained deacon and our other two seminarians literally ran to help them across the hilly terrain. After our group was reunited, we continued the follow the windy path.
There must be something about being in the woods that taps into our “primal” human behaviors. Suddenly, our beloved deacon began to break branches against tree trunks, throw rocks over ledges, and high jump over fallen trees. I recalled my cross country running days and really wanted to run up and down the path we were following. Several of my Sisters were very amused by the big black squirrels we would occasionally see. Madre took lots of pictures with her phone. I sensed a free spiritedness among my companions.
When we began our descent, I was walking alongside our deacon and he asked some “deep” questions about our community’s formation. As I answered his questions and offered some of my own reflections, I overheard one of my little Sisters behind me say to the seminarian next to her, “We are walking this path together.” This really struck me. I believe she meant something much deeper than being on the literal hiking path we were all walking on.
Since being adopted by the seminary community, my Sisters and I have come to realize that we go through a lot of similar things that our seminarian brothers go through. Though different, there is a complementarity between religious life and diocesan life. Since our community is intensely Eucharistic and Marian, I think there is a unique and beautiful complementarity between us and our diocesan priests, deacons, and seminarians. They pray for us, we pray for them. They offer support for us, we offer support for them. They want to become saints, we want to become saints. We really are walking this path together!
You all are in my prayers. Please pray for us!
-Sr. Katie
Really God, THIS is Your Invitation of Love?
God, Your love hurts!
You know all too well of this painful love through Your sacrifice on the Cross. Yet, You don’t act in our lives expecting an equal return, but only fidelity to the daily tasks asked of us.
On the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mercy, my two sisters and I received a fuller outward sign of our consecration to Christ as His bride. The Bridegroom demonstrates His self-gift through humbly and obediently accepting death; stripped of His outer garments, He seemingly has lost all, or has He gained all? The icon of Christ the Bridegroom depicts brutality yet powerful omnipotence–paradoxical! He is Whom I love and Whom my sisters and I were clothed in, yet this act was only a manifestation of the inward transformation slowly being done in hiding, in the secret of our hearts.
Formation in religious life is such a unique opportunity to die to oneself while also receiving insurmountable and unexplainable graces. Honestly though, this is the faith any baptized Christian is called to live. The paradox that underlines the foundations of our beliefs is challenging, yet we must not succumb to fear. Our human nature so easily allows fear to consume our being and paralyze us from living as authentically as we were created to be. This emotion is unwarranted given Christ crucified and risen, yet we wrestle with understanding this merciful act of love.
God created the world out of nothing, so there is nothing He won’t do for us. God simply IS: present, alive, merciful, compassionate, loving, patient, faithful, a Father. With this next step in formation, I must live in the Truth that God is not distanced from me. Sure, I’m wounded and broken and in need of daily healing: none of this is ‘too much’ for God (even though I can be treading water and seemingly drowning).
“Yes, my daughter, I invite you to love Me specifically through the crosses you encounter.”
God’s invitation for me demands that I respond by offering Him my life through a consecration in religious life. How is He begging you to love Him? Offer yourself as a living sacrifice today! Wounds will be formed, but only imitating those of Whom you follow. Know that my sisters and I carry you in prayer! How can we pray for you? My desire is to offer my Novitiate intensely for the intercessory needs of the Church. Every day, every moment is grace. May you be filled today with such love. United in the suffering and joys of life, we stand at the foot of the cross, in hope. See you in the Eucharist!