The following is the Reflection given by Sister Miriam Malone, SNJM, May 2, at Santa Clara Mission Church, during Evening Prayer in Thanksgiving for Women Religious in the Diocese of San Jose:
By Sister Miriam Malone, SNJM
“Rejoice in the Lord always! I shall say it again - Rejoice!” These words of St. Paul were first addressed to a community that was experiencing considerable antagonism from within their own membership, a community that was being weakened by internal divisions, and tainted by self-seeking and pride, a community that was threatened by different interpretations of the true message, mission and meaning of the Christ event.
“Rejoice in the Lord always! I shall say it again - Rejoice!” These words were written by one who had been accused of false preaching and imprisoned for his active proclamation of the Gospel.
They were written by one who found himself bound, at least externally, by the imposition of religious authorities with whom his message and ministry did not find favor.
“Rejoice in the Lord always! I shall say it again - Rejoice!” These words of passion and conviction could come only from one who had grasped the radical nature of conversion to Godʼs revelation in Christ Jesus.
This message of exuberant joy makes no sense at all ... except when it comes from one who has discovered the truth that those who share in the sufferings of Christ will share also in the deep, mysterious joy that comes from intimate union with that same Christ who is risen and lives ... and is very near.
We live in a world not unlike that of the Philippian community. There are many challenges to the life of joy to which we were called, all of us through our Baptism and many of us gathered here today, through our Religious profession.
We are surrounded by earthquakes and environmental disasters, floods and fires -- not pestilences of the past, but realities that affect people’s lives every day and become fodder for political posturing.
Wars in the name of
righteousness threaten peace, justice, and harmony among and within nations. Our Church is broken and bruised, and the gaping wound of the sexual abuse scandal is festering.
Questions of power and authority, inclusivity and fidelity, in religion, politics and economics ride the airways and visit our coffee rooms and community rooms daily.
Our anxiety level is raised as we navigate the complexities of Romeʼs apostolic visitation to our Religious congregations.
Christianity itself is divided as the message of the Gospel is challenged in the very name of God or co-opted by pundits and talk show hosts.
In the midst of all this chaos, we are called to rejoice. Rejoice, we do, because rejoice we must. Our joy flows from the paschal mystery that is the heart of our lives.
Religious life is not about what we do in the chaos, nor is it even so much about how we live amidst the chaos. Religious life, as all discipleship, is about our relationships as we journey through the chaos toward the reign of God.
It is fundamentally about staking our entire lives on a relationship with the one alone who had passion enough to live and die for the life of the world.
Through, with and in the Risen Christ, we confidently move from chaos and anxiety to passion for the transformation of all creation as we respond to the signs of our times.
We move from chaos to compassion for the people whom God loves so unconditionally, as we discern our ministries and follow the example of Jesus in the gospels.
We move from chaos to charism, that is, to the vision of our foundresses and founders as we develop hearts as wide as the world and eyes to see the dear neighbor, as we discover, give birth to, live and preach the Word of God, and as we pursue all that would lead to the full development of each human person.
We move from chaos to collaboration with each other, with our ministry partners, and with those among whom we minister as we build relationships and continue to move together to create a future full of hope.
We have been called to share in the mission of Jesus to educate and heal, to challenge and bless, to inspire and lead, to forgive and comfort, to live and to love in his holy name.
We are from many countries and cultures, and we have Religious Sisters and Brothers in all areas of our world. We share a common mission and a common vision -- the building up of Godʼs reign of justice and peace in our own time and place.
We keep on doing what we have learned and received and heard from our heritage -- the Gospel mandate, the Churchʼs rich and holy tradition, and the courageous and creative action of those who have gone before us in Religious Life.
We are inspired and challenged by those who have responded to the hopes and sufferings, griefs and anxieties of the people of their times.
We embrace with our lives the lives of those to whom we are sent knowing that the many gifts that have been given to us are for their sake. In all this we cannot help but rejoice because in all this we have come to know the God of peace.
Yes, it is a peace that surpasses all understanding, and it is a peace that keeps our hearts and minds fixed on God as the source and summit of all that we say, do and are. In this peace alone can we find the courage to be true to our call.
We pray that our presence with each other and to the people whom we serve may enrich the lives of many in ways that are honorable, lovely and gracious. We do this not for our own praise, but for the praise of God who alone is excellent and worthy of praise.
As we continue our journeys of discipleship in the company of our sisters and brothers, let us continue to ponder the mystery of Paulʼs message of joy.
Our lives, as Paul’s, are rooted in a profound understanding of the unique role of Christʼs suffering, death and resurrection in transforming sin into salvation and chaos into communion.
May we, through our prayer and ministry, express deep apostolic love and concern for all people as we, too, suffer, die, and rise with Christ.
May we show great sensitivity, tenderness and enthusiasm for carrying out our mission to share the Good News and live lives of thanksgiving.
Together with our bishop, our priest and deacon brothers, and all our sisters and brothers in the Diocese of San Jose, may we hold to what is true, honorable, just, lovely and gracious, and bring these gifts of healing and wholeness into the brokenness of our world.
Together may we not only sing, but may we become a great hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God. For this we were called. For this we were chosen. With full heart and voice, indeed, with the fullness of our lives: Let us rejoice in our God always. I shall say it again. Rejoice!