Some time ago, a woman was sharing with me her experience of faith as a born again Christian. She attributed part of her recent enthusiasm to popular series the Chosen, which depicts the life of Jesus through the eyes of his disciples. In addition to helping her imagine what the life of Christ and his followers might have been like, she attributed to the show a newfound love for reading the Gospels since she now realized that what is written actually took place some 2000 years ago. She ended the conversation with a comment about how she wished that, similar to the disciples, she could sell everything and spend the rest of her life following Jesus.

Knowing that the woman was actually a fallen away Catholic, I found her comment ironic. What she was unaware of is that within the Catholic Church there are indeed people who have sold everything and given away all their possessions to follow Jesus; we call this the religious life. As the first number in Vita Consecrata states: “In every age, there have been men and women who, obedient to the Father's call and prompted by the Holy Spirit, have chosen this special way of following Christ”. They, too, have left everything behind in order to be with Christ and put themselves as he did, at the service of God and their brothers and sisters. At once a privilege and a responsibility, the religious life is, for those ‘chosen’, a call to “embody the Gospel ..bringing anew the living presence of Jesus" (VC 9), which, we pray by God’s grace may inspire our brothers and sisters to live their discipleship to Christ with renewed enthusiasm.

- Sister Teresa

Matthew 14:22-36

I have been reading and re-reading the Gospel for Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time. It is the intriguing passage about Jesus walking on water and Peter blurting out, “Lord, if it is you command me to come to you on the water.”  As we know, he got out of the boat and began walking towards Jesus, but when he took his focus off of Jesus, he became frightened and began to sink.  I can relate to Peter.  There have been many times in my life when Jesus has saved me from sinking.  During those moments I quickly turn to our Lord in prayer asking for His help and He is always there, ever present.   When you feel you’re drowning in life’s situations, don’t worry.  Your Lifeguard walks on water.  Let us keep our eyes on Him, not on the storm. 

by Sister Elizabeth

As I prepared for my Perpetual Profession with joy and expectation, my prayer and personal reflection often took me back to see how the Lord had always been present in my life leading me step by step. How did I make it to this culminating moment? Many times I was not even aware of what the Lord was doing in my soul, but I do know that making the decision to surrender to Him and his call fills me with such joy and a deep sense of satisfaction that is not of this world. Nothing can compare to this!

To anyone who may be longing to discover God’s call, I definitely invite you to set out to follow Christ without hesitation! Allow yourself to be loved by Him. He is the only one who gives meaning to our lives. When Christ calls us to a particular life mission, He gives the grace to carry out what He is asking of us. So do not be afraid: let him take you by the hand and lead you!

By Sister Brenda

Sister Brenda López professed Perpetual Vows as a Servant of Mary on October 11, 2022 in Kansas City. 

God's Persistence Prevails in Vocation Journey, from The Leaven

As a novice just starting out in my religious formation, I remember two of our older sisters who would sit in the back pews in the chapel, contemplating our Lord in the tabernacle. I would see them there often. They have since been called home to the Father, and I often reflect on how they are now seeing God face-to-face. Their example encourages me to persevere and to never lose hope that one day I too will be in heaven to delight in my God forever.

- Sister Evangelista

The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood. The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity.  July is also the month when I made my First Profession of Vows to God.  It was on July 18, 2003 when I was formally asked of my willingness to unite myself more closely to God by the bond of religious profession as a Servant of Mary.  By the grace of God I gave my “Yes” that day and have never looked back.  Reflecting on the Precious Blood of Christ that sanctifies us, finding and following my vocation is a means to that holiness that we are all called to.  And I must say that it is in following Jesus’ call that I have found true joy.

- Sister Elizabeth