Joyful Witness in God’s Vineyard

God calls every person. Some are as ordained ministers, others to married life and still others to consecrated life. The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, number 44 speaks of living the evangelical councils of chastity, poverty, and obedience, “The faithful of Christ bind themselves to the three aforesaid counsels either by vows or by other sacred bonds, which are like vows in their purpose. By such a bond, a person is totally dedicated to God, loved beyond all things.” By this bond, the faithful of Christ dedicated themselves for the sake of the kingdom. This is a life that God wants us to live and become His channels in order to dispense His bountiful grace.

Consecrated persons live their life as a witness of Christ in the world. By their being joyful in their ministry, people are amazed and startled by the life they live. Pope Francis once said, “By being joyful! Show everyone that you follow Christ and put his Gospel into practice, filling your heart with happiness. Infect those who are near you with this joy, and then many people will ask you for the reason and feel the desire to share with you your splendid and enthusing Gospel adventure.” The consecrated persons are challenged by the Pope to infect those who are near to them with the gospel values which Christ first entrusted to his apostles and now to each one of us. By being joyful in the ministry, people will notice and become a living testament that by following the Lord there is joy and happiness.

In the celebration of the feast of the presentation of the Lord and at the same time the declaration of the world day of consecrated life, in a little way, we are reminded of those people who choose to be light shining in the darkness and dedicate themselves for the proclamation of the gospel. The people who offer to God their life for the world that is in need of this kind of witnessing today. We can apply to the consecrated life the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, “It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but by attraction.” The consecrated life will not grow as a result of dazzling vocation programs, but because the young people are attracted because they see us as men and women who are happy! Likewise, the effectiveness of consecrated life does not depend on the efficiency of its methods. It depends on the persuasiveness of their lives, lives that emit the joy and beauty of living the Gospel and following Christ to the full.

On the contrary, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI presents the real situation and he wrote that “Joy appears to be something almost amoral, an attack on righteousness in this world, where so many are tortured, where so many go hungry, where so many are robbed of their freedom, where so many suffer unbearably. Are we really allowed then to rejoice? Or is not a joy the expression of dullness, indifference, or even cynicism, which itself becomes oppression of those who suffer? If we look at the world, we see some cause for joy but much, much more that is terrifying. This is why today we see so many faces line with sorrow, anger, or indignation, on which joylessness and anger are written like a spiteful creed.” This is the challenge to all of us who follow the Lord in the midst of the world that seems to teach another way of living. We continue to be the real presence of Jesus who brings the glad tidings “Eungelion” to those who suffer, are hopeless, and are in despair.

As we follow the Lord, we examine our personal life. Pope Francis reminds all of us that, “There was a time when we responded to the Lord’s call, and with enthusiasm and generosity offered our lives to Him. Along the way, together with consolations, we have had our share of disappointments and frustrations. At times, our hard work fails to achieve the desired results, the seeds we sow seem not to bear sufficient fruit, the ardor of our prayer cools and we are not always immune to spiritual aridity. In our lives as consecrated men and women, it can happen that hope slowly fades as a result of unmet expectations.” Our connectedness to the Lord is very important in doing our mission. We are not simply social workers but we bring the Lord into their midst. To experience His very presence, His love, mercy, and compassion, His concern to all people. Our being consecrated is sometimes challenged by seemingly not being progressive in the work and looking as if nothing is a good result. We do not forget that the work that the Lord entrusted to us is not only on our own but it is the Lord’s work of salvation. We do not forget what had happened in the Gospel of Matthew that the seed grows without the notice of the farmer (Cf. Mk 4:26-29).

As consecrated persons, we are in the world but not of the world (Cf. Jn 17:14). Pope Francis in his message during the celebration of the world day of the consecrated persons said, “Simeon and Anna cherished the hope proclaimed by the prophets, even though it is slow to be fulfilled and grows silently amid the infidelities and ruins of our world. They did not complain about how wrong things are but patiently looked for the light shining in the darkness of history. To look for the light shining in the darkness of history; to look for the light shining in the darkness of our own communities.” We do not complain as if we fall into the same trap that the devil is making. Many people are experts of complaining, specialists of complaining, they become very good at complaining! Instead, we become the source of inspiration of the world. We become the beacon of hope in the sadness that the world experienced.

Lastly, as we participate in building up the kingdom of God here in this world, we are always challenged to be faithful in the Lord’s command. We let ourselves be drawn in the very presence of God and the fulfillment of God’s invitation to be with Him. We live our vocation as God wants us to be and live faithfully on that call that God entrusted to us. Through the vocation of being consecrated persons, we can make a difference in the world. (Bro. Soren Abellanosa)