As a Bridegroom Rejoices in His Bride
V.J.E.
Mom, this entry is for you.
On September 29, the Feast of the Archangels, Katie, Ines and I (April) will begin the Novitiate. During the ceremony, we will receive the veil, the habit, and the title of “Sister”. We will part with our long hair, and join the ranks of the Mercedarian Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Our beautiful postulant Sisters will be singing for the Mass, and members of our families, friends, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel School will be in attendance. But what does this ceremony really mean? Is it not just another step in a process, another rung to be climbed on some “ladder-to-holiness”? No. For me, this is my first, real “I do”.
Sure, I have said lots of “yeses” in my life, and every day must be filled with “yeses” if we choose to love. But there is something so official, so final about this beginning. I suppose the best way I can express it is this: this is my formal engagement announcement. Jesus has asked for my hand, for my whole being in marriage, and I desire to lay down my life for Him. I am so very weak, so very poor, but Jesus sees this, and He loves my weakness. I cannot say that I understand this – no, I struggle so much with my weaknesses. But I can say that I love Him, I want to let Him be my strength, and I desire to be His forever. I look forward to the day in which I can proceed in this covenant of love with the blessing of Holy Mother Church by taking my perpetual vows.
In Heaven, we will be completely united with God. There will be no longer marriage between creatures, but between Christ and His Bride. “For as a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you” (Isaiah 62:5). And the way in which He loves… it is so magnificently beyond us. What is so amazing, almost unbelievable, is that we can begin to live this spousal relationship now. Not just by a formal consecration, but in our lives as single people, as husbands, as wives, as sons and daughters, as parents. All of us are called to holiness. All of us are called to be Saints. And all of us are created to love and be loved. We are God’s Beloved, and He is the Lover of our souls, the only One Who truly knows us. And, the more we love God, the more we will let go of our attachments to temporal things, and the more (paradoxically) we will truly be able to love His creation. May Jesus’ Love reign in our hearts, and may we learn to love Him above all. God bless you and your family.
Evangelizing with Mary in the Light of the Eucharist,
April Marie
Memories…
Praised be Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!
This month of August has been a very significant month in my life.
To begin with, I was born in this month. Then I entered the convent at the age of 16, almost 17, on August 1st.
I emitted my first vows on August 15, and my perpetual vows on August 16.
To make this month more significant, my mom’s birthday is on August 4 and one of my niece’s birthday is on August 9.
In other words, it is a month full of celebrations! …and full of the fondest memories -even though some of these memories are bittersweet, like the day I entered the convent. In my heart I knew I was following the voice of the greatest of all Lovers who had called me by name and was requiring of me to trust Him, to love Him in return, to dare to take the risk to surrender myself to Him who would satisfy the deepest desires and dreams of my young heart.
On the other hand, the pain to leave my family, the unbearable sadness at knowing that it was my decision that was causing so much suffering to them, especially to my mom…
About two weeks ago, on August 15th, four more girls have decided to follow that same sweet voice that called by name years ago. Like many of us, they have dared to take the same risk and have joined our community. Each one of them, as they were told the day of the entrance ceremony into postulancy, has just begun to walk the path to their nuptials with Christ! They have started their journey hand in hand with Jesus; a beautiful but challenging journey that will require of them may acts of faith, hope and love. The psalmist says they will be taken through “green pastures where He will make them lie down; they will be lead to still waters and fresh waters to restore their souls” (Ps 23:2). More importantly, Jesus will feed them with the “finest Wheat” (Ps 147:14).
But this dear Jesus, to whom the Song of Songs refers to as the “most handsome of all men” (Songs 1:16) is also the Lamb of God, the Lamb that was slain; and since the bride should “follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev. 14:4), inevitably these young women will have to lay down their lives for their friends, as Jesus did.
Please, pray for them, and pray for all religious that we keep always alive the “first love” (Rev. 2:4). And pray to the Master of the harvest to send more laborers to the field because “the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few” (Lk 10:2).
In the Eucharistic heart of Jesus, your sister
Jeanette Marie, HMSS
Evangelize with Mary in the Light of the Eucharist.
Guest Blogger Post by Brian Suntken
V.J.E
Without parables he did not speak to them,
but to his own disciples he explained everything in private. (Mark 4:34)
Every Saturday evening, we do Lectio Divina in community. It’s amazing how different interpretations can come from the reading of the same passage. It truly enriches everyone because what I might not have thought about, another person shares. The entire experience results in the Word of God being made more fully appreciated, and observed in all its inexhaustible facets and angles.
Scripture, especially parables, are truly fascinating. They reveal so much while at the same time concealing so much. For this Sunday’s Gospel passage, of the parable of the mustard seed, we spoke of how God in His Wisdom shields us from our own growth in virtue so that pride does seep in and mess up the process. We go along each day, praying, begging for holiness, feeling like the worst of sinners, while others look at us and see growth and maturity in our spiritual lives. We tied all the readings together and found the link between the body and the mustard plant as a home to be transplanted to a new and heavenly home.
Today, I came across a blog which offers yet again another interpretation to the parable of the mustard seed. He speaks of the literal characteristics of the mustard seed and how this imagery parallels with the Kingdom of God.
For the entire blog post click on the link below:
http://john13verse34.blogspot.com/2012/03/lent-2-thursday-mustard-seed.html
Life is such a beautiful adventure, with much to learn and much to discover. Let us continue to ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in His ways. Amen
Happy Sunday