Called...Beyond...

‘The challenge… is to hold in balance: the difference of each one, the creative potential of each one, and the interdependence of all.’

This document was part of our preparation for our International Collegial Assembly in 2007.  Many of us (Sisters and friends) continue to find this helpful in our lives.  References noted in the document are to be found in the previous document 'Listening to the Movement of the Spirit'.

Introduction:

CALL touches the very core of our being and leads us onward to RESPOND to God’s yearning for the world today.

“We dare to commit ourselves to an unknown future since we believe in the presence and  power of the Risen Lord, who calls us beyond all that we might ever imagine. We are ready to entrust ourselves into the hands of the loving God of mystery.” (C,20)

It is said that, in any comprehensive account of human life, there must be room for the imaginative leap which may transgress the limits to which we have become accustomed, and leads to uncharted territory.

What feelings do the above statements generate in me/us ?

How free are we to give God the freedom to lead us forward ?

In Jn 6 :44, Jesus reminds us that call comes from God.  ‘’No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me..’’ Let us recall the free response that we first gave to God. God’s call comes to us in many different ways. We all have our own wonderful stories.

It may be helpful to share something of the ways we have experienced the mystery of God’s call in the course of our lives.  We may also have noticed ways in which the people we encounter have been touched by something of God in their lives.

When Jesus is asked what work He will do so that people will come to believe in Him (Jn 6:30), His response is simply an invitation to recognise the Source – the Beyond.

Are there ways in which I have experienced moving beyond what I have held on to as an important ‘asset’ in my life ? (Phil 3: 7-13)

It is when we are touched by God’s call that we reach out…. and in reaching out we will discover other dimensions of the mystery of call.   Jesus said of himself: “I have come from heaven, not do my own will, but to do the will of the One who sent me”. Jn6:38.  Sincere discernment of where the call of God is for us today presupposes a willingness to listen to one another, to learn from each other, to spend time searching together, open to being enlightened.

Knowing that there is no response without struggle, we are being constantly challenged to respond with a greater spirit of inner freedom, commitment and responsibility. The differences and contradictions which we encounter in life all help us in a paradoxical way to keep focussed on the Beyond.

What has been my response to call in times of struggle and difficulty?
 

Section 1

Our response to CALL in the context of the MISSION of the Institute.

“Intrinsic to the call of God is a sense of mission, of being called for a purpose….call, spirituality and mission unfold together…”  (B, 2).

Mission in this sense is that which motivates us, gives meaning to our lives and calls us forward. It is about “how” we do what we do rather than “what” we do. The focus here is not on how we are different from others, but rather on what has been part of our IJ spiritual inheritance and characterises our way of being with people.  Let us remind ourselves of some of these elements:

Freedom: with regard to structures that would hinder us from giving responses appropriate to the needs of each time in history; “We learn to call on God to be with us in our struggle so that it may lead to greater freedom and commitment‘’. (C,2)

Abandonment: trusting in God’s providential care; not worrying about what will become of us one day; “trust in God’s powerful and transformative presence in our lives” (C,13)

Courage and daring: ready to take risks; “A spirit of courage and daring ensures that we continue to be open to and actively explore new ways, new forms of commitment and new ministries, according to the needs of the day” (C,14).

Availability: ready to go where one is needed; “In a spirit of availability we are open to respond to greater needs as they arise.” (C,14)

Simplicity: “True simplicity is lived through a quiet confidence in who we are, as we reach out to others with acceptance and respect…our humanity and natural way of approaching people”. (C,13)

Formation: human and spiritual growth; “In the same spirit as our first sisters, we are challenged to keep ourselves informed about local and global issues and the ways in which they affect the lives of people today……recognising the dignity of each individual and working for their human and spiritual growth. Emphasis is given to formation of people who could continue the missionary thrust that enables each one to become more free and responsible for their future.”(A,3).

Attention to root causes: “As members of the global community, we try to identify the root causes of human suffering”. (B,4) “We hear a call to be alongside those whose basic needs and rights are being violated or neglected”. (B,2)

Deepening our appreciation of who we are as women: “We bring to our places of ministry our God given feminine qualities…..we develop in ourselves sensitivity to events and an attentive listening to reality” (B,6).

Spirit of God: N.Barré’s prayer was that the Holy Spirit would always be the source of life for the Institute. “We listen to the murmur of the Spirit’s voice in the signs of our times and seek to discern its meaning with a shared and prayerful faith. The Spirit of God can walk through our closed doors of fear and lead us where we may not otherwise dare to go” (C,6).

Mission is closely related to the person of Jesus who is for us the way, the One in whom we find the truth and the One who gives us life.

“Meditating on what He says and does gradually leads us to come closer to the mind of Jesus and seek to follow Him in all His ways.” (B,3)

When grounded in this strong sense of mission, we may also discover that there is a life beyond ‘likes and dislikes’, relationship problems, idiosyncrasies, “my” world…and be open to ways of being that are appropriate for the realities of today.

How does this way of looking at mission impact on my life ?

In what ways are we, like the Samaritan woman, called to move beyond our ‘jar of water’ ?