By Molly Fernandes
Sancoale, Feb 2, 2023: February 2 is the World Day of Consecrated Life, instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1997, urging the faithful to pray for the religious.
The day is also the feast of the Presentation or Offering of Jesus in the Temple which St. Luke presents dramatically with a deeper and thought provoking meaning. The characters in the episode, their spontaneity and gestures manifest a lot.
St Luke intrinsically says: “Moved or led by the spirit, Simeon went into the Temple when Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus to offer him in the temple.” Yes, something stirs and arouses the Simeon’s heart to go to the Temple.
His sight though dimmed falls on Jesus and recognises as the One whom his eyes were waiting to see – the Salvation of God. Having moved and seen, he holds and embraces the Child. Prophetess Anna, full of hope, though aged sings praises of God ending the long wait filled with the Spirit.
They awaited with patience the fidelity of the Lord and did not allow themselves to be robbed of the joy of the encounter with him. The encounter of Simeon with Jesus, led to rivers of joy to flow and he dares to prophesy.
This is what happens when His Spirit stirs us, he gives us a mission to dare. But the questions are: What is it that moves us? What do I wish to see? And finally what do I wish to embrace or take into my arms?
When questioned why she still wants to remain a religious, St Anne’s Sister Betty, Delhi, says: “Because the Lord has chosen me and desired me to be his own. I can feel his presence in my life, although at times I fail.”
Queen of the Apostles Sister Regis says: “I do not have any thought to break away from the relationship with my Lord and master that I have built up very painstakingly as a religious. Even when he could have thrown me out from human point of view, for valid reasons, He remains faithful, patient, loving, caring, and making me happy with ever new surprises every new dawn.
Pallotine Father Carlos from Bangalore says: “I’m attracted to this way of life. Being a religious I can give more of my time to the Lord and dedicate myself to the task entrusted to me with more love and generosity. And also contribute to glorify the Lord with the talents he has bestowed on me.”
Holy Cross Sister Sneha from Kerala says, “We know the value of water, once we feel thirsty, we feel to drink water only. So, I’ve tasted the Lord. This taste quenches all other things. I want to drink this living water than any other thing.”
“Commitment, Service and gratitude to what I received leads me to continue being a religious as my gift to God” says Jesuit Father Jose Silveira from Goa. Holy Cross Sister Deonisia declares: “I love my vocation, God has been gracious, it is by his grace what I am today. My Founder inspires me to a great extent to be a blessing to others and it gives me the satisfaction to see the smile on their faces.”
Dominican Father Joaquim Lakra considers religious life “as a special gift which perhaps I don’t deserve, but God was kind enough to grant me. Amidst various trials/temptations, continuing as a religious is a big challenge. However, I believe one who called me, strengthens even though I am weak. He surrounds me with his love and it is only because of his love, I’m able to continue. The love which I received from him is what I want to give him back.”
Sister S Mary of the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth says she has encountered and embraced Jesus in those “whom I serve and want to continue to share the love I have experienced to many more.”
God has placed his Son in our arms too, because embracing Jesus is the essential thing, the very heart of faith. Sometimes we risk losing our bearings, getting caught up in a thousand different things, obsessing about minor issues or plunging into new projects, yet the heart of everything is Christ, embracing him as the Lord of our lives. Lord, set me as a seal upon your heart.
All the more, I ask for the graces to make up for the less and lesser contributions from my part as His co-worker in his enterprise of building the Kingdom of God” as I thought over why I still want to continue as a religious.
Meanwhile, the Holy Family Sisters with headquarters in Goa’s Sancoale Goa marked the feast with Mass. Sisters came in procession with lit candles. The celebrant Father Kenneth Teles encouraged the religious to continue holding on to Christ, being in communion with each other as living in the community is not easy.
On the occasion, the Road of the Holy Family Boarding and School was blessed and inaugurated by the congregation’s superior general Sister Berna Rodrigues.
(Sister Molly Fernandes is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth based at Sancoale in Goa. She is the director of the Sisters of Holy Family of Nazareth communications center and editor of their magazine.)