Simple ProfessionVOW1Sam3:1-10;
2 Peter 1:3-7,10-11,
Mk: 12:41-44 John 15:1-8
Mr. Antony Collins who was a great thinker was sitting in his house and watching the people outside. A village man passing in that way. Collins asked him, hay man where are you going? he replied “going to the church”. What will you do by going to the Church? The villager replied ‘to pray.’ Then with curiosity Collins asked “Is your God is big or small? The villager smiled and said He is so big the heaven of heavens cannot hold Him because he is the creator of the universe. He is very small that he can dwell in my little heart in the form of Eucharist. This God is God of ours both small and great. In response to his call you are present at the alter of God.
Dear sisters, in this pandemic situation the whole world is terrified to come out to meet and greet one another. At this juncture our 8 young novices are ready to say fiat to the Lord bravely. At this moment of grace let’s together reflect the three lettered word VOW.
What is the significance of the word “Vow”?
V – Stands for voluntary commitment
There are two levels of vocation in our church. Vocation to marriage and vocation to religious life. There is an element of voluntary commitment in both. The couples make voluntary commitment in marriage without any compulsion. the marriage becomes sacramental Only through voluntary commitment.
when I was a deacon in particular parish in Trichy. There was a sacrament of matrimony. 3 couples were getting ready to be married. Just before the pronouncement of their commitment one of the bridegroom said I don’t like to get married with this man. Again the PP asked the question and she repeated the same. she said that the parents and relatives compelled her and she has no interest in it. Thus the marriage was stopped for her and other 2 couples got married.
In the same way, you and I make commitment voluntarily in religious life. What is the significance of religious commitment? For example in marriage either it is a love marriage or arranged marriage the couple do not undergo any kind of formation like aspirancy, novitiate, preparation for simple and final profession, diaconate, ordination etc. Just two families come together fix the date and they get married. but you see in our religious life we undergo lots of formation, screening test, exams, community experiences, exposure programs, diaconate ministry, etc. minimum it takes 8 to 12 years of formation. After going through different stages of formations we are voluntarily convinced to make our commitment to the Lord.
In the scripture we find many examples of voluntary commitment. When the chosen people are volunteered, God used them as His instruments and they become a great people to the nations. For example, when Samuel was called he said “speak Lord your servant is listening”. Thus Samuel became great leader and anointed David as a king over the Israelites. When Isaiah was called he said “Here I am send me” and he became mighty prophet to announce Immanuel to the king Ahaz. When Mother Mary was called she said, “Here I am the servant of the Lord” and she became the Mother of God. In the same manner all those who volunteered themselves to the call of God, God used them as his instruments. That we see in the life of saints. In the same way today you have volunteered yourself. And God will use you as his instruments in his vineyard through your congregation.
O Stands for Obligation to my commitment and to my congregation
Can. 662 we read that “Religious are to have as the supreme rule of life the following of Christ proposed in the gospel and expressed in the Constitutions of their own institute”.
What is the Primary Obligation of my Commitment?
obligation is to be with Him which is beautifully expressed in Mk 3:14 Jesus appointed 12 and called them apostles. The primary obligations of the apostles are to be with Him, and sent out to proclaim the good news, and to have authority over demons. In the novitiate you have given the timetable and the novice mistress follows you to deepen your intimacy with the Lord. From now on you need to take the responsibility to live your commitment more authentically by practicing it in your way of life all that you have learned in your formation. Today most of the religious think that their obligation is their secular profession. But your secular profession is secondary obligation.
A religious who is a doctor, or teacher or social worker is not a doctor, or teacher, or social worker by profession; but a religious is religious by profession –live by the values of the Gospel in an uncompromising way. Before your religious profession no other profession must over-rule you. Because First you have religious profession all other social profession falls behind it. Therefore, religious commitment is your first obligation.
The second obligation is obligation towards my congregation. Again we recall the same texts of Mk 3:14 to send out to proclaim. Here comes your profession of doctor, TR, S.worker etc. which congregation gives to you according to the needs of the apostolate.
Mother Theresa of Calcutta used to spend one hour with the Lord regularly before she begins her profession as a nurse. That is why ordinary Theresa becomes a mother Theresa. She has received the motherly spirit in the Eucharistic Lord. Being with the lord was her first obligation and serving the needy became second obligation. In the same way dear sisters religious profession must be your 1st obligation and secular profession should be the 2nd obligation.
W double U + U: that is you and the one who called you.
You
When I say you - You are called by God. Not your brothers and sisters or your friends of your village or school. It is you are called and you are here to make the difference. I like to recall the first talk which I gave you in 2019.
Every little drop of water makes the mighty ocean. Though the ocean is full of water but the little drop of water in the chalice make the difference.
Though there are varieties of flowers in the garden but the flowers in the alter of the Lord, sing praises to God.
Though the women wear different flowers on their head and when it is dried they are thrown away to the garbage but the flowers decorating in the images of saints even if it is dried yet preserved by the people.
Dear novices, in the same way though there are many people in this world, many friends around you, many sisters in your family all are not called but 8 of you are specially called to decorate the vineyard of the lord and to make a difference in the church, difference in the congregation and difference in the society at large.
Dear Novices Are you ready to make a difference?
What kind of difference that you are willing to make and show to the world? Don’t worry about the obstacles, difficulties, problems, sickness etc. God says you are precious in my sight. I am with you and deliver you today I have appointed you as a prophet to the nation. To become a prophet like or to make difference you must be pure in words, deeds, and thoughts.
That’s why we used to discus in our class that the word novice for others it may be designating a person but I know for you it has different meaning. What the meaning of the word Novice. No-vice. Repeat with me. in me there is no vice. even after leaving this place of novitiate you must carry this words and repeat it daily. In me no vice.
the second You is God who called you
Again I like to recall the words of Jeremiah when did God call you? and When did He consecrate you?
Jer 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I consecrated you”. that means God knew these 8 novices are going to become sisters in the Holy cross congregation on this day 29, 2021. this date is fixed while they were in their mother’s womb.
Secondly when did you receive your consecration? For these 8 novices the consecration is already over. How? To prophet Jeremiah God said “Before you were born I have consecrated you”. That is to say these 8 novices are consecrated while they were in their mother’s womb. This ceremony is just enrolment into the congregation.
So dear sisters finally the word Vow is nothing I voluntarily commit myself to fulfill my obligations towards Christ who called me and consecrated me.
May God bless your commitment! And on this day we do remember the great sacrifices of your parents and brothers and sisters who willingly offered you to God. May God bless them abundantly! Dear sisters God does not want your ability or your inability but he wants your availability. May our Holy Mother and all the Saints of your congregation intercede for you to journey with the lord to fulfill the meaning of Vow in your lives. Congratulations dear sisters. Amen.
Can. 669 §1. Religious are to wear the habit of the institute, made according to the norm of proper law, as a sign of their consecration and as a witness of poverty.
Dear friends in Jesus Christ! I am indeed happy to preside over this grace filled celebration of 1st commitment of our beloved novices namely Aiswarya, Ann Maria, Jeba Babista, Jeevitha Rani, Jeromiya, Nisha, Polita & Subasini. On this blessed day we recall the words of the scripture where St. Peter addressing Jesus on Mount Tabor, “Lord it is good for us to be here”. Dear sisters today it is good for us to be here with you, to honour and celebrate your commitment and devotion to the call that the Lord has carved out for you in your life. We know that your response of Fiat is the result of prayer, discernment and deep reflection over many years esp. reflecting over past 2 years in this novitiate. Along with sisters and relatives we appreciate your Fiat to the Lord. May the Almighty God accept your voluntary commitment through this holy Eucharist. On this day one side with joyful note of the celebration on the other side with remorse heart we do remember and pray for our beloved provincial Sr. Jothi, we witnessed her life as a living example. May the Almighty God grant her eternal Rest. May the blessed saints of our congregation intercede for all of us. With this intention let us begin this Eucharistic celebration.
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