“HOW” WE ARE CALLED TO RESPOND TO THE CALL OF THE SAVIOR.
Our Rule of Life begins by expressing HOW we are part of the Oblate charism:
The call of Jesus Christ, heard within the Church through people’s need for salvation, draws us together as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Christ thus invites us to follow him and to share in his mission through word and work…
Cooperating with the Saviour and imitating his example, we commit ourselves principally to evangelizing the poor. (Constitution 1)
This is a rephrase of Eugene’s original mission vision of a group of disciples coming together in order to “strive to imitate the virtues and examples of our Savior Jesus Christ principally by dedicating themselves to preaching the Word of God to the poor” (1818 Rule). This group he defines as “coworkers of the Savior.”
As we explore the Constitutions and Rules, we will see the development of this HOW.
REFLECTION
Pope Francis spoke to the Oblate Charismatic Family in 2022:
“Pilgrims of Hope in Communion”. It is a theme that sums up your identity on the streets of the world, to which, as disciples of Jesus and followers of your founder Saint Eugène de Mazenod, you are called to bring the Gospel of hope, joy and peace. It is a world that, on the one hand seems to have reached seemingly unreachable goals, yet on the other is still enslaved by selfishness and full of contradictions and divisions. The cry of the earth and that of the poor, wars and conflicts that shed blood on human history, the distressing situation of millions of migrants and refugees, an economy that makes the rich ever richer and the poor ever poorer, are some aspects of a scenario where only the Gospel can keep the light of hope burning.
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I am heartened this morning as I sit here with all of us members of the Oblate Charismatic Family, walking together in interrelatedness as Pilgrims of Hope in Communion.
I dare to share my belief that God, the Church and all of us are like so many of the poor that were touched by Eugene and his founding community of the Congregation of Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Right now we seem to be witnessing another type of revolution, just as did Eugene and those called to work with him. It touches each one of us, in ways that only God knows. We are not so different from those who led the various revolutions in Eugene’s time, with those who lust for power and control, and the desire to be a new God.
I remember St Eugene’s words that he wrote as part of the OMI Constitutions and Rules in what we now call The Preface: “We must lead men to act like human beings, first of all, and then like Christians, finally, we must help them to become saints.” (The Preface) As Oblate Associates we dare to speak out and find ways to walk with all who live as sons and daughters of Eugene; no matter our state and/or role in life. We walk in the light of St. Eugene de Mazenod – our founder.
I heard Jesus call my name and claim me as his own, and who working through others leads and accompanies me. It is Jesus who has called me out to be a co-worker in sharing the Good News. I have dared and continue to dare, much as did St. Eugene in his life. As a child of God, as a member of the Body of Christ and the Church and as an Oblate Associate I dare to speak out to the poorest of the poor, be they women, members of the 2SLGBTQ+ Family, the homeless and those who are being told they are not worthy of God’s the life God has given to them.
I find myself silently singing: “We remember how you loved us to your death, and still we celebrate, for you are with us here; and we believe that we will see you when you come in your glory, Lord. We remember, we celebrate, we believe”. (Marty Haugen) Here I am singing not just to God but also Eugene who shares his charism with each of us.