“Do this and you will live” (Luke 10, 28) are the words of Jesus to us as he invites us to recognize him in the Gospel.
As members of the Oblate Charismatic Family exploring the Rule that is our inspiration, we remember that it is our reflection and application of the Gospel. In the words of St Francis of Assisi, “The Rule is the life of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
The Vatican Dicastery for Consecrated Life pointed this out clearly for us in 2002:
It was the Holy Spirit who sparked the Word of God with new light for the founders and foundresses.
Every charism and every Rule springs from it and seeks to be an expression of it.
In continuity with founders and foundresses their disciples today are called to take up the Word of God and to cherish it in their hearts so that it may be a lamp for their feet and a light for their path (cf. Ps 118:105).
The Holy Spirit will then be able to lead them to the fullness of truth (cf. Jn 16:13). (“Starting Afresh from Christ,” n. 24)
Yes, my heart sings: Yes! I have not thought about it but the Oblate Rule of Life IS the life of Jesus in the Gospel. Two streams of consciousness joined into one. I see it with the eyes of my heart. The Preface of the OMI Constitutions and Rules with Eugene asking how did Jesus handle this or that. The beginning steps of communion…
I think of what I heard Jesus say to me and how I learned some years later that his words were to be found in the Book of Isaiah. Words and being that transformed not only my heart, but all of the entire universe as I looked with new eyes. And then a few years later my small daily prayer to make me a light to my neighbours feet, (and today I learn that prayer comes from Psalm 119 in my Bible).
I want to shout to the world how “in continuity with founders (in my case St. Eugene de Mazenod, OMI) and foundresses their disciples today are called to take up the word of God and to cherish it in their hearts…” And this is happening with us who would find our ways to living this favored Rule of Life.
It is with deep humility and gratitude that I respond passionately to the invitation and to join and walk with Pilgrims of Hope in Communion.