Between 10th and
16th, as religious of St Joseph mission, we lived a very strong
experience of encounter with the Lord and his Word. The facilitator, Sr
Luciane de Cesaro, together with texts for personal reflection, she shared her
practical experience of life, helping us to renew our commitment with the Lord
who took the initiative in calling us and has made us new people. The new
condition of our lives is to be guided by his Spirit in order to produce the
proper fruits in accordance with our identity of disciples. The Spirit of God
wants to guide our actions for the good of others and not for our well being or
personal satisfaction. From the example of Paul and other apostles we have
learnt how to spend the best of ourselves to serve others, being instruments of
the love and tenderness of God.
Nothing more is so precious for us than to have
the grace of belonging to Jesus, taking part in his sacrifice for the salvation
of all mankind. For that from this experience of spiritual exercises
we are willing to sacrifice ourselves more and more with Jesus in order we may
live truly because it is he himself who wants to live in us.
Through the love it is possible recognize in each person the own Jesus Christ. This is the love which he gives to us making us
to follow him in his sensitivity and mercy before the reality of the people
with whom we work. This is a passionate love which is expressed in the service
to others, just because it is free. We are invited to cultivate this passionate
love for Christ which makes us really free, giving true meaning to our lives
and mission. Of course, if there is passion for Jesus, there is also passion
for the people who belong to him. As it is Jesus our motivation, only the
intense and deep relationship with him will guarantee to us the fruits which
are expected in our mission and the sincere love in the relationship with the
brothers in the community. .
“The blessed Jesus wants us to cooperate
with him and to accomplish what is lacking in his passion. Jesus offered
himself for the salvation of the brothers; we have to offer not only him,
divine victim of infinite value, but also our lives with him.”
St John Calabria