“His life is our life, and His mission is our mission”

Dear confreres, 

It is during this time of the year that, once again, we remind ourselves about our common vision rooted in Christ himself, that is, “His life is our life, and His mission is our mission”. Let us also remind ourselves that, as an intercultural religious missionary community we strive to share in the daily dreams and struggles of our people. Despite our different ministries and communities, let it remain in unity and communion, of which we are called for, to live with the Father and the Son.

 

It is this unity that brings fulfilment to our religious life and in our communities. This is what we are called for, to seek the mind and the will of God in all things, and our whole being will be drawn into greater unity and communion with God. The indivisible unity of the Trinity is the source and pattern of our oneness as followers of Christ. Just as he prayed for us, “that, indeed we may be one..." This is a prayer for the salvation of believers, and a testimony for others who see how we live our Christian life, and how we live in our communities. 

We are equally called to share in the very unity and “communion of love” which is found in the life of the Most Holy Trinity. Each person of the Holy Trinity has perfect respect for the other, giving selflessly to each other without reserve, and receiving each person in their totality. In the same way, we are also called to respect one another, to give ourselves selflessly to one another, and to be receptive to others. It is their love as Holy Trinity that makes them one and enables them to act together in perfect harmony as a communion of Divine Persons. Even for us Christ’s followers, when we work and act together, supporting one another, perfect harmony will always accompany us. And when we love one another, we become true witnesses to this communion of unity. 

God wants us to share in a communion of life, not only with the Most Holy Trinity, but also with those around us. By being one and in relationship with God, we also enter into that relationship with those people put into our lives, our community members, and those whom we are called to serve. Our oneness in relationship with God and with one another is the model of how we love others. The year 2022 will soon pass and remain in memory. 

A lot has happened. Struggles and achievements have been experienced, and in all these, let us take a moment to reflect on how this might have shaped our lives. May this Advent Season, in which we prepare ourselves to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the preparation for Christ’s second coming, remind us of our need to continuous welcoming God into our lives. Wishing you all a nourishing Advent Season. 

By: Fr. Kawana Martin, SVD