- The difference we are called to make
A consecrated person or a priest should be what he/she presents oneself to be—men and women of true human maturity, social and moral integrity and spiritual depth, with all these traits perfected in the universal and selfless love of Christ.
We are living in a difficult time due to a corrupt socio-cultural milieu. We experience the building up of the web of social media and the breaking down of the web of human relationships. Education and medical systems have also lost their purity of purpose. They have become the biggest money-making institutions.
Respect for human life and values is diminishing (see the staggering number of abortions and increasing percentage of the exploited people and the rise of hunger index, especially in our country). In addition, there is serious lack of profound solidarity among all world religions to the point of almost promoting a war of religions. The moral and social hypocrisy among religious leaders, who are supposed to live moral values, is hot news in the media.
Some influential people want to turn the wheels of history back for their political gains and affirm the narrow domestic walls of caste and every form of discrimination of human beings that breed inequality. Such ideologies discriminate people socially or economically, making some sections subservient to the other. This is a blow to the Christian values of sacred dignity and equality of all human beings.
We urgently need to shed the role and the omnipresent image of a priest and nun as a functionary and an administrator and not a disciple of Christ merely in name and doctrine. People no longer find Christ in some of our institutions. They can find HIM only by our interpersonal and fraternal caring relationship, making present the servant Jesus (Matthew 20:20-25).
People eagerly look at the consecrated persons with admiration and expect to see a true example of a counter current of joy and integrity, in contrast to the debased destructive culture.
As Pope Francis says, “The joy that you have freely received from God, please, freely give away; so many people are waiting for it! So many are waiting for it from you!”
People look at us to affirm these values even if we have to face the inherent hatred instigated by some for political ends. During the Covid pandemic, many of us hid ourselves from the contagion and from the poor, leaving a few doctors and nurses to bring solace to the least and lost, some of them abandoned to die a terrible death.
As the Second Vatican Council said, “The joy and hope, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially of those who are poor or afflicted in any way, are the joy and hope, grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well” (Gaudium et Spes).
We do not have to force ourselves to be relevant. But we will become relevant as we become the light, salt and yeast of the society we live in.
“All religious, therefore, with undiminished faith, with charity towards God and their neighbours, with love for the cross and with hope of future glory, should spread the good news of Christ throughout the world, so that their witness will be seen by all people and our Father who is in heaven will be glorified.” (PC 25)
- The difference I think I have made
As a homeopathy physician, besides giving medication, I listen to patients a lot. In fact, most need healing of mind and heart, and don’t require medicines for their illnesses. They just want to be understood, listened to, and appreciated. Giving heed to the hearts of the people heals three fourth of their illnesses and helps them to have a hearty smile. “Do everything in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). I do it with much love for the people. The love I experienced from God, I spread to the people, so that they may experience the same and spread that love to those around them.
Sr Dr Mary Deepa OSM
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