TO LET HIM LIVE IN US (Constitution 2)
We are men “set apart for the Gospel” (Rom 1: 1), men ready to leave everything to be disciples of Jesus. The desire to co-operate with him draws us to know him more deeply, to identify with him, to let him live in us. We strive to reproduce in ourselves the pattern of his life. (Constitution 2)
Eugene defined us as “co-operators” of Jesus Christ and charged us:
Insist on making Jesus Christ known and loved. Speak often of this divine Saviour and of all he has done to save mankind. Make them resolve never to spend a day without praying”
Letter to Fr. Jean Viala, 17 January 1849, EO IV n. 4
The Catechism we grew up with contained the question, “Why did God make me?” The answer was: to know, to love, and to serve. Our Rule expresses the same sentiment in dynamic language:
– “to know him more deeply,” in the Biblical sense, means to have a relationship of communion with Jesus.
– “to identify with him,” means to be a part of his cause, to see ourselves as being linked with his mission of salvation. We want to reproduce the pattern of his life.
– “to let him live in us,” refers to Matthew 20,28: “ behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” – living in us, and making us his missionary instruments.
JESUS’ PRAYER FOR US
“I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.” (John 17,20-23)
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My heart sings…
As I sit here this morning with all of you reflecting what it might look to “let him live in us” a new day begins. We reflect on all that we have been given, called to be, and all that is being fulfilled within us: the dance steps of our lives. The choreography is not just for our individual steps alone but the steps that have been woven within and between us and which invite others to join the dance. The mingling of Oblate Mazenodian Charism with each of our individual charisms.
I must pause for a second as I thinking of the words from our Liturgy of the Eucharist, “May this mingling of the Body and Blood or our Lord Jesus Christ…” I am a little unsteady for a moment that I see it all as one rather than separate parts and events. For a moment I allow my heart to weep up through my body… and wonder if I might be “loosing it”.
The many gifts that we have been given by God – to share with one another and all those we meet. This way of reflecting together on the Oblate Rule of Life is leading each of us to enter more deeply into the Charism that we share with each other and then the world. All of this so that we might be able to know him more deeply, to identify with him and to let him live in us. That God should love us so…
There are times when my response to God is not always recognized by myself, yet you share with me who I am becoming; a child of God, one of Eugene’s sons and daughters. I find myself stepping out with all of you to join the dance of life that we have been invited to join, to let ourselves dance the steps of this Oblate Charismatic Family.
“Lord you are the way, the truth and the life” (ref. John 14:6). It is with this Oblate family that you have led us to be together.