Items filtered by date: Monday, 30 December 2019

Meditation for the Year of Vocations

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jer 1,5)

For the Year of Vocation inaugurated on September 19, we are invited to reflect on the following theme: "Come, do not be afraid, Christ lives and wants you to be alive". These are the words that Mary addressed to the two children at La Salette: "Come near my children" and the words of Pope Francis to the young in his Post Synodal Exhortation to the youth (Christus Vivit)

Vocation is a gift of God's love for his people. The call of God is to stay with Him “whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (I John 4:16) 

 “The source of every perfect gift is God who is Love, Deus caritas est: “Whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1 Jn 4:16). Sacred Scripture tells the story of this original bond between God and man, which precedes creation itself. Writing to the Christians of the city of Ephesus, Saint Paul raises a hymn of gratitude and praise to the Father who, with infinite benevolence, in the course of the centuries accomplishes his universal plan of salvation, which is a plan of love. In his Son Jesus – Paul states – “he chose us, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him in love” (Eph 1:4). We are loved by God even “before” we come into existence! Moved solely by his unconditional love, he created us “not … out of existing things” (cf. 2 Macc 7:28), to bring us into full communion with Him” (Message of the Holy Father (Pope Benedict) for the 49th World day of Prayer for Vocations).

When God calls us, it does not mean that everything is ready and done, but He calls us to make a journey with him. Participation in this project involves our daily response to the love of God who first loved us, and this love should draw us every day

The way I respond daily to the Lord in my daily life in a simple and safe way is the perfect freedom in my life.

 The testimonies of our history as Missionaries of La Salette, the example of those who have been guided by this love, strengthen us and encourage us to renew the gift we have received from God in us!

“And yet, there can be no greater joy than to risk one’s life for the Lord! I would like to say this especially to you, the young. Do not be deaf to the Lord’s call. If he calls you to follow this path, do not pull your oars into the boat, but trust him. Do not yield to fear, which paralyzes us before the great heights to which the Lord points us. Always remember that to those who leave their nets and boat behind, and follow him, the Lord promises the joy of a new life that can fill our hearts and enliven our journey.

Dear friends, it is not always easy to discern our vocation and to steer our life in the right direction. For this reason, there needs to be a renewed commitment on the part of the whole Church – priests, religious, pastoral workers and educators – to provide young people in particular with opportunities for listening and discernment” (Message of the Holy Father (Pope Francis) for the 56th World day of Prayer for Vocations).

Manuel Dos Reis Bonfim MS

God our Father, we give you thanks for calling us to embrace the gift of life and share it.

As once, through Jesus the Christ, you chose the first disciples to proclaim the Good News, and poured out your Spirit upon the Church,

renew us now in our vocation and our mission of reconciliation;

let the same call echo in the heart of many young persons, that they may generously respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters, after the example of Mary, the Beautiful Lady of La Salette;

inspire in men and women of our time the desire to be “light” and “salt” in the Church and the world. Amen.

Called, Formed, Sent

(2^nd Ordinary Sunday: Isaiah 49:3-6; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John 1:29-34)

St. Paul presents himself as “called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus,” and reminds the Corinthians that they are “called to be holy.” In the first reading, we read of one who says that the Lord “formed me as his servant;” John the Baptist speaks of “the one who sent me to baptize with water.”

All of these are reflected in the Psalm response: “Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.”

God’s servant further declares: “I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord.” He claims no merit other than what the Lord has done for him and promises to do through him: “I will make you a light to the nations.”

When God chooses persons for his service, it is not necessarily because they possess special skills. On the contrary, he looks upon them, makes his choice and then bestows his gifts on them. John the Baptist, for example, was empowered to recognize Jesus as Lamb of God and Son of God.

We have often observed that the children chosen by Our Lady of La Salette had no special talent for the mission she confided to them. She provided what they lacked, and they were remarkable in resisting bribes and threats, in answering objections and trick questions. Thus did she call them, form them, and send them.

We may say the same for ourselves. Whatever our vocation may be, however we were attracted to it, it was God’s doing. Thus, one of the most important principles of the spiritual life is this: go where you are drawn. Discernment, after all, is precisely the prayerful discovery of the answer to the question asked by Saul on the road to Damascus: “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10)

A La Salette vocation is often, so to speak, inserted into or overlaid onto another vocation. In the varied circumstances of our life as laity, religious or clergy, we find ourselves drawn to the Beautiful Lady. She who declared herself the handmaid of the Lord, invites us to serve the Lord with her.

Like Maximin and Mélanie, we might not be the candidates we ourselves would choose, but we can trust Mary to provide guidance and inspiration.