Young Father Marius Suzanne was recuperating from a serious illness at Notre Dame du Laus. He occupied his time by writing a book on apologetics. Eugene invited him to be more focused on the aim of his missionary life.
Letter to Marius Suzanne, 25 August 1827, EO VII n 276 Apart from Eugene’s constant preoccupation with the health of his Oblates, this letter is clear in its insistence that the focus of a missionary’s time and energy must be the question of salvation and how best to succeed at the conversion of those he ministers to. From here a question emerges for us today on our use of time and energy: are we ceaselessly driven from activity to activity, or are we focused on how and to what purpose we use our time and energy?
“We always have time enough, if only we will use it right.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe |
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Reading this I am aware that I can become very ‘busy’ at times and that can become for me a distraction. If I stop to look at it with honesty and ask myself “why” a small quiet question arises from a place deep within; “Is it enough?” Fear coming from a old but remembered wound. Not always but it can sometimes figure in there. I very recently read a piece from Fr. Anthonysamy Irudayaraj, OMI and it has stayed with me. Titled “Opportunities for Growth” Fr. Anthonysamy shared his experience of being a part of the Japan Mission. He wrote that the bishop, who assigned him to be head of a committee, told him to do just one thing: “To be with the people”. He went on to say; “Today I am involved in many committees not because of my talents or abilities, but because others trust me. I do my best because that is my mission. […] We become what we are because of the mission, wherever and whatever we do.” The ‘doing’ coming from the ‘being’, which leads me into yet a deeper reflection….