Strength for the Week

Strength for the Week

An Excerpt from Inspiration from Pope Francis:

We need to come out of ourselves, from a tired and apathetic way of living faith, from the temptation of closing ourselves in our own schemes that ultimately close the horizon of God’s creative action. God came out of himself to come among us. He pitched his tent among us through his mercy that saves us and gives us hope. If we wish to follow him and remain with him, we too should not be content with remaining in the pen with the ninety-nine sheep. We ought “to go out,” to search with him for the lost sheep, the one who is most distant. Remember well: come out of yourselves, like Jesus, like God came out of himself in Jesus, and Jesus came out of himself for us all.

How I wish that the Lord would make us understand and feel that evangelization “is not an optional contribution for the Church. It is the duty incumbent on her by the command of the Lord Jesus, so that people can believe and be saved. This message is indeed necessary. It is unique. It cannot be replaced. It does not permit either indifference, syncretism, or accommodation. It is a question of people’s salvation. It is the beauty of the revelation that it represents. It brings with it a wisdom that is not of this world. It is able to stir up by itself faith—faith that rests on the power of God” (Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 5).

We do not have the right to be indifferent and to love ourselves. How I love myself! No, we do not have that right. We need to go out and proclaim that 2000 years ago, there was a man who wanted to re-establish the earthly paradise, and he came for that reason. To restore all things.

We need to come out of our shell and tell others that Jesus lives, that Jesus lives for him, for her, and to tell them this with joy . . . even though one may at times seem crazy. Saint Paul says that the message of the Gospel is foolishness. Our lifetime is not enough to surrender and announce this: that Jesus has restored life. We have to go to sow hope; we have to go into the streets. We have to go out to search.

The first thing that the Virgin Mary did when she received the Good News in her womb was to go out, running to be of service. Let us go out running to be of service, in that we believe in the Good News and we want to give it to others. Let this be our conversion: the Good News of Christ yesterday, today, and always.

Get Inspiration from Pope Francis Today. http://store.pauline.org/english/books/productid/4348.aspx?txtsearch=%22inspiration+from+pope+francis%22%27

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Coming out of ourselves, as Pope Francis invites us to, is almost a sacramental way of living. A sacrament is an outward sign instituted by God to give grace. That’s the definition I memorized as a little girl. As a child I knew of seven sacraments of the Church. As I matured I learned that you and I could be “sacraments” to others in as much as we allow Jesus to work in and through us. The more we empty ourselves of our self, the more we allow Jesus to work in us. This coming out of ourselves or self-emptying allows us to be signs of God’s love and presence to those around us. I want to share with you some “sacramental” memories that stay with me today. 

I can still see the old rectory of a downtown Catholic parish in New England. The walkway to Father’s house was covered with a green awning similar to those you might see for a funeral home or a restaurant. In the rectory parlor I was surprised to see the stuffing escaping the pillows on the sofa. A once elegant room now bore the marks of real poverty. At Mass the pastor’s Spanish revealed a heavy American accent. Despite the less than perfect speech and even less elegant surroundings, I felt we were in the presence of a Saint. The parishioners poured out their prayers and songs with energy and enthusiasm. They obviously loved their Padre. He did not surround himself with luxury or even the conveniences of a modern, tidy dwelling. Their Padre was a true shepherd who spent his life for his sheep in a once bustling city in the throes of an economic downturn. 

In the 1990’s a group of Knights of Columbus lent their time and manpower to help us renovate our Charleston book center. Whether on their hands and knees pulling up old carpet, moving furniture or hauling old shelves to the junk yard they were cheerful and generous. One of the men used his pickup for deliveries to a Lutheran food pantry in addition to all he did for us Sisters and for his own parish. When our Sisters opened their Center in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia they were assisted almost every evening by a few couples. These middle aged husbands and wives came after their work hours to remove worn out flooring, clear out debris and do whatever was necessary to make the house pleasant and serviceable. 

In Cordova, Alaska, we met a priest who had come out of retirement to staff... Read more >>http://pauline.org/blog/ArticleID/1499/Come-Out-of-Ourselves-to-Become-Christ