|
Vocation to Love |
|
|
|
Louise Ryan from
Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan, Ireland worked as a
physiotherapist before joining the Columban Sisters.
She currently lives in the Novitiate community in Ballymun, Dublin. The following is her reflection on love which she was invited to give at the launching of the song "You will be my witnesses" on May 17, 2008. The song was composed to mark the introduction of the "Year of Vocation" by the Catholic Church in Ireland. |
|
Vocation to Love |
|
|
Our common call as Christians whether single, married, religious or priest is to follow Jesus and to love as Jesus loved. Jesus, in John’s Gospel says: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jn 15:12 We are all gathered here together called in love, each of us chosen by God to respond to this call in our own vocation. Maybe we can take a moment to reflect on our call and vocation of love. Anyone of you could be up here sharing your story, but since I have been asked to share mine II will take a few minutes to do so: God’s love guides us in our vocation to express His love in relationship with God, each other and Creation. We are invited to be childlike in trust in receiving love: “…I hold myself in quiet and silence, like a child in its mother’s arms…” Ps 131 The image is one of being held in attentive love, being gazed at with loving eyes and being a precious child of God. This love allows growth and transforms us within to live out God’s plan for us in our vocation to fullness of life with Jesus. The call to Religious life for me was one of a deep sense of God’s love. The resulting inner joy and peace was childlike in wanting more and ready to leave everything without question. Like Peter I was ready to leap out of the boat to walk on water to be closer to Jesus. At that time I contacted the Columban Sisters and arranged to go across the water to have a mission experience with the Sisters in Peru. Some time after arriving in Peru, I realised I was in Peru. My brain, that had been stimulated with so many new sights and sounds, caught up with the body in being present to the realities of everyday life. I was grounded by the kindness and welcome of the Sisters and Peruvian people; here I was ‘family’ despite my feeling of complete vulnerability. Not having the language initially ensured I observed and what I saw was loving companionship both between the Sisters in community and also with the people. The Sisters were neighbours to the people in the shantytowns of Lima and witnessed to God’s love in their simplicity of community living, reaching out in their various ministries and daily contact with the people, centred by prayer. One of our Sisters, Sr. Joan Sawyer, had being involved in prison visitation over twenty years ago. One of the days she was visiting she was taken hostage by 7 prisoners who were trying to escape. Sr. Joan and the prisoners died as a result of gunfire, but the local people erected a cross near the site to keep them in memory and the message of God’s love that conquers violence and death. The local people lived God’s love in their lives. One laywoman, Julia, had dedicated her life to helping those most in need in her community. I went with her one day to visit a young man who, due to difficulties with his legs, could not stand or walk and spent most of everyday sitting on the floor, unable to leave the house. As his mother was working all day, good neighbours like Julia readily shared meals and their time because they truly cared. During my time, like Peter on the water, I sank when fear, self doubt and questions blocked my view of Jesus. I wondered if this was truly my vocation when I had so many weaknesses and failings. The great thing was Jesus’ hand held me firm through the acceptance of my community and Peruvian friends that again held me in the love of God. One of the Sisters, Sr. Joanna, had started an association for people with physical and mental disabilities that encouraged each person to use whatever skill they had to make various crafts for sale. One young woman Maria, who was paralysed, had limited movement of her hands and made the most beautiful cross-stitch patterns readily helping others learn the skill. Often not much was made and progress was very slow, but they were a community founded in love that shared hope, joy and faith in God’s love. It was here I learned the importance of simply being rather than always doing and achieving and it was here that I felt the desire to start the formation programme with the Sisters. This last year and a half of continued formation in the Novitiate with the Sisters has continued to open my eyes to a God of unconditional love and abundant giving. We are all God’s children and share in Jesus’ mission to bring this Good News of God’s Love to all. I would like to end with a prayer from Blessed Teresa of Calcutta: “Let us love each person - the unborn, the young, the old, the sick and the poor- with the same love with which God loves each of us, a tender and personal love.” To contact the Columban Sisters in Dublin, E-mail: altdublin@yahoo.co.uk
|
|
