Vocation Reflections
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Feb. 1: Weekly vocation reflection
February 1, 2012.
Dear Friends, The other day, I received an e-mail from the leader of one of the vocation groups to which I belong. It was addressed to all the members of the group and was filled with several "not-so-gentle" reminders about things that the leader felt needed to be brought to our attention. I was initially a little stunned by the tone of the letter and then got downright mad! My good friend, self-righteousness was sitting on my shoulder cheering me on and my buddy, pride was right in tow, raising her fists in the air at the injustice of it all! My first temptation was to shoot back an angry e-mail and my second temptation was to e-mail all the group members, vent my frustration and plot a protest. It's so HARD to be good! My guardian angels must really be working overtime trying to keep me on the straight and narrow!
The gospels on Sunday and Monday dealt with Jesus' reaction to some people possessed by evil spirits. While I'm not claiming to be in the same category as the two guys in the gospel, I can say for sure that when the demon proclaimed its name as "Legion", I've had a few personal encounters! If ever there was a time that Jesus spoke with full authority, it was to rough up the demons and send them straight back to hell. It was a reminder to me to take sin a little more seriously and to look more closely at its effects in my life. I think the most perplexing part of all is that our demons know and recognize Christ for who Christ really is. We, on the other hand, are blind-sided by our sin and are prevented from seeing Christ as the one having authority over life and death. We are deluded into believing that we are in control, including being in control over the power of sin in the reality of our daily life.
Thank God for the sacrament of reconciliation and for the daily consciousness examen that invites us to re-visit the events of our day and to see the patterns with which we relate to ourselves, to others and to God. We need this daily system of checks and balances to fight the fight against Legion - the flea sized temptations and weaknesses that trigger a rise of evil in our minds, hearts and spirits. It's for real, friends! Let's not be deceived!
For those who are seeking the way of goodness and who desire to give themselves fully to Christ, expect to be broad-sided by demons of doubt and unrest. There's nothing more discouraging for Satan than one of God's chosen ones doing God's will. I have witnessed his power unleashed in the lives of some of the best and holiest people I know. RESIST HIM. Put on the armor of Christ which is LIGHT and LOVE and find that interior place of peace where the Holy Spirit pours out grace upon grace. Seek the support of others who are on the journey and don't be afraid when your own weakness gives way to occasional failure. Pick up and keep walking. You are never alone!
Tomorrow and this coming weekend, the Church all over the world celebrates Consecrated Life in its many forms. Pray for yourselves and for all who have said "Yes" to Christ, to be in His service in this life. Tomorrow, our community also celebrates Postulants' Feast Day, so to our own postulant, Nicole, and to our postulants worldwide - Blessings of peace and joy to you! Thank you for your "yes"!
I look forward to being with our friends in Chicago this coming weekend for our Discernment Weekend and for the Nun Run. Our next Discernment event will take place in Texas from March 2-4. I hope you will be able to join us!
Also, I hope to debut our College Level Discernment Program on February 21. For those students with a Skype and/or Oovoo internet connection who would like to be part of our live conversation, please send me your Skype or Oovoo address/name so I can add you to our group. The topic for the evening will be announced next week. Until next week... joyfully in the Holy Family, Sr. Michele Editor’s note: Sr. Michele Vincent Fisher, national vocation director for the CSFNs, shares this weekly reflection via e-mail with a group of women discerning their vocation. If you are interested in joining that on-line community, please e-mail VOC4NAZ@aol.com or call 215-335-6387.
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