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Capuchin Tertiary Sisters and lay people, walking together caring for and cultivating life.

To reread is to look at a document again, it is to return to its origin entering to the root of its intuitions, to listen and to see with depth its scope and utopias, it is to inhabit its content appropriating it, respecting the essential, to establish a dialogue between yesterday’s experience and today’s experience.

To turn our gaze to the Congregational Life Project «to care for and cultivate life» implies allowing ourselves to be led by the Spirit, to travel in his company along the itinerary marked by his Word and welcomed by the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family, In the XXIII General Chapter of the year 2022, which gave rise to the final Document, «Together we go forward, we generate and care for life» and enter barefoot into the eight calls of God, with courage and commitment, to break into the novelty of the new stage of consolidation Time of «caring for and cultivating life». 

The Congregational Life Project embraces in itself a charismatic experience lived by «Francis of Assisi, the mystic and pilgrim who lived with simplicity in a wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself (cf. Pope Francis, Laudato si no 10,»); the witnessing life of the poverello invites us to create home communities where everyone, sisters, Lay Amigonians and those who share the mission, have a place and the ability to care for and cultivate life in all its dimensions, it is there, in the unfathomable depths of fraternity where the various gestures that enrich human and fraternal relationships sprout, where one learns to stir the earth so that the germ that opens to existence, has deep roots and grows with the endearing strength to generate life, a life ready to guard, safeguard and protect the universe and in it all beings called to protect.

Throughout history, the Holy Spirit has invited the Church to be a tireless seeker of new paths and to live God’s Project in the mission entrusted to her, the proclamation of the Kingdom; Many men and women, consecrated and lay, aware of their responsibility and belonging to the «flock of God» (I Peter 5, 2), have joined this inspiration to be immediate collaborators in the processes of evangelization of peoples, the Amigonian Laity and those who share the mission with the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters, They have committed themselves to live the Christian life based on the charism bequeathed by Father Luis Amigó y Ferrer and today, they are called to join the Congregational Life Project «to care for and cultivate life» by sharing their own richness, which will later become a transforming force.

Caring for and nurturing life requires unified, coherent and mature people, unafraid of adversity and their vulnerability, resilient men and women with the inner disposition to adapt without complaint to the challenges of the journey, sisters and lay people who care for their own lives and those of others with the tenderness and compassion of the Good Samaritan, determined to enter barefoot into the depths of their being to encounter their own truth, to give thanks for the gifts received and to question those gestures that do not allow them to draw from the broken vessel the most genuine that the Father has placed in the heart of the human being.

The Congregational Project, «to care for and cultivate life», is not only a right of the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters of the Holy Family, but a duty, whose main objective is to involve the Lay Amigonians and those who share the mission in the construction of the common home, in whose interior the beauty of the beings that God has created and human life beats with its joys and hopes, its searches, fragilities and failures, cultural and economic inequalities, wisdom, charismatic and formative aspirations? All this is a revelation of the Spirit and a gift for those who, feeling in their being its creative power, follow in the footsteps of Luis Amigó and Ferrer and in synodality, walking together, make of their daily life a permanent care and cultivation of human existence, both at the personal and community level, as well as at the social level.

This is a permanent task, a praiseworthy mission, which can only be achieved when, in the quiet silence of daily life, one enters the sacred sanctuary of one’s interiority and encounters the surprising presence of the living God who reveals himself and speaks to the heart.

He who takes care of his interiority, connects with his roots and is capable of dialoguing the most intimate secrets with the One who has made of him a unique and singular creation, placed in the heart of the common home to safeguard human life, is clothed with love, to welcome with an equal, kind, affectionate treatment and a compassionate-merciful attitude typical of Francis of Assisi and Luis Amigó, women and men immersed in the immense universe, talented, innovative, ignorant and foolish people; old people and children forgotten and discarded to ensure their own interests; sick, poor, marginalized and excluded, little visible to the eyes of the world; young people tired and without sense of life. The Sisters, the Lay Amigonians and those who share the mission, are the ones summoned to surround with the tender embrace of love that brings closer, breaks the cold schemes and widens the bonds of fraternity.

All this supposes the ecological conversion that implies the loving awareness of not being disconnected from other creatures, of forming with the other beings of the universe a precious universal communion. For the believer, the world is not contemplated from the outside but from within, recognizing the bonds with which the Father has united us to all beings (Pope Francis, Laudato si no. 220).

The Capuchin Tertiary Sisters, seekers on the way, the Lay Amigonians and those who share the mission, committed to the Church and the Congregation, are the first invited to let themselves be infected and affected by this congregational commitment, being witnesses of the authentic and coherent living of the calls that God makes to walk together, to advance, to generate, to care for and to cultivate life.

Sr. Ana Tulia López Bedoya, tc

Province of Our Lady of Divine Providence

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A transcendental proposal based on the family project from the perspective of the Capuchin Tertiary Sisters.

In the heart of contemporary society, where family dynamics evolve and transform, working with families emerges as an imperative need. From promoting emotional well-being to building inclusive communities, working with families is becoming increasingly relevant in the modern world. This article briefly outlines a proposal for accompanying today’s family from our spirituality, highlighting key principles and practices that can strengthen and nurture families on their spiritual journey.

The family, as a community of love and life, reflects God’s communion and loving relationship with humanity. From its origins, humanity was created with the capacity and responsibility to love and live in communion. The love lived within the Holy Family is so vital that St. John Paul II described it as an «efficacious sign of God’s love,» making it a sanctuary where life and love are intertwined. It is in the family that the first experience of love and relationship is forged, a fundamental learning place where meaningful relationships are developed and the ability to make free and wise choices is cultivated. It has therefore been given the title of «first school of humanity», essential for the development of society.

Here are some aspects where the proposal of accompaniment to families could be centered.

  1. Strengthening the relationship with God: Family accompaniment from the Franciscan Amigonian spirituality begins with the strengthening of the relationship with God in the bosom of the home. Like the Holy Family, families today can cultivate a life of prayer, worship and obedience to God’s will, establish times of family prayer, participate together in the sacramental life of the Church and seek to discern God’s will in family decisions.
  2. Healthy Family Relationships: The Holy Family teaches us the importance of fostering healthy family relationships based on love, respect and communion. Family accompaniment focuses on helping family members cultivate unity and mutual support, as well as addressing conflicts and challenges constructively, facilitating open and honest communication, promoting forgiveness and reconciliation, providing tools to resolve conflicts peacefully, fostering empathy, and promoting open and respectful dialogue between parents, children and other family members. As Pope Francis would say, «It is in the united family that children reach the maturity of their existence, living the meaningful and effective experience of gratuitous love, tenderness, reciprocal respect, mutual understanding, forgiveness and joy.»
  3. Supporting the stages of family life: Family accompaniment from the spirituality of the Holy Family recognizes that families go through various stages and transitions throughout life. This may include forming new families, raising children, caring for the elderly, and adapting to changes in family structure. Provide support and guidance at each of these stages, helping families discern how to live their faith authentically and meaningfully amidst the challenges and joys of family life.
  4. Promoting Solidarity and Service: The Holy Family challenges us to live Christian values through service and solidarity with others. Family accompaniment includes opportunities for families to engage together in works of charity and service to those in need, both within the community and beyond. This not only strengthens the social and community fabric, but also enriches the spiritual life of the family by putting into practice the commandment to love one’s neighbor.

In conclusion, family accompaniment from the spirituality of the Holy Family offers an integral and enriching approach to strengthen and nurture families in faith and in daily life, following the example of Venerable Luis Amigo from closeness, minority and simplicity.

Sr. Rosa Alix Fajardo Gómez, tc

Mother of the Good Shepherd Province

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LECTIO DIVINA SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

MERCY SUNDAY

First Reading

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35

The group of believers were of one heart and one soul.

Psalm

Ps. 117:2-4,16ab-18,22-24 R: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever.

Second Reading

A reading from the first letter of the Apostle John 5:1-6

Who is he who overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John 20:19-31

Blessed are those who believe without seeing!

First Reading – Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35: In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we will hear that the early Christian communities were characterized by a spirit of communion and the practice of helping one another. The believers shared what they had, attended to the needs of the most vulnerable and lived in fraternal union, thus reflecting the values of the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus, highlighting the importance of this community life as a testimony of the love of Christ in the midst of a society marked by inequality and injustice, we must take advantage of these strong gestures by which, more than by words, an authentic Christian is recognized.

The life of the first Christian communities was centered on the person of Jesus, on his message of love, mercy and the hope of his return. These fundamental aspects gave cohesion and meaning to community life, strengthening the faith and commitment of the first Christians.

Psalm – Psalm 117:2-4,16ab-18,22-24: In today’s Psalm, we are invited to give thanks to the Lord for his goodness and everlasting mercy. Let us remember that the Lord is good and his love endures forever. May this Psalm motivate us to praise the Lord with gratitude and joy in our hearts.

Second Reading – First Letter of John 5:1-6: In this passage, the Apostle John speaks to us about the importance of faith and love in the life of the believer. He begins by affirming that he who believes that Jesus is the Christ is the son of God. This belief in Jesus Christ as the Messiah is fundamental to Christian identity and to the relationship with God as Father.

John goes on to explain that loving God implies keeping his commandments, and that these commandments are not a heavy burden, but are the way to live in communion with God and with one’s brothers and sisters. Love for God is manifested in obedience to his commandments and in love for one’s neighbor, thus reflecting the relationship of sonship with God.

Gospel – John 20:19-31: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us: «Blessed are those who believe without having seen.»

In the Gospel of this Second Sunday of Easter, Mercy Sunday, the appearance of the risen Jesus to his disciples is recounted. This passage shows us different aspects of the experience of faith of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus. But even more we will highlight the experience of Thomas in the encounter with Jesus who in the face of his uncertainties and distrust will respond with a merciful look that allows him to verify for himself the resurrection, Jesus, not without confronting his unbelief allows Thomas to touch, feel, see and feel to make the experience he needed in the encounter with Him, to purify his experience of faith.

LISTEN

In the first part of the passage, we see the disciples gathered in a place with the doors closed for fear of the Jews. Jesus appears in their midst and shows them his hands and his side, displaying the wounds of the crucifixion as signs of identification. This experience fills them with joy and infuses them with the Holy Spirit, sending them on a mission to forgive sins.

Thomas, one of the disciples, was not present at Jesus’ first appearance and expresses skepticism about the resurrection. Jesus appears again and invites him to touch his wounds, which leads Thomas to a profound confession of faith: «My Lord and my God!».

CONTEMPLATES

The name «Thomas» is a shortened form of the Aramaic name «Ta’oma,» meaning «twin.» In the Gospel of John, Thomas is also known as «Didymus», which is the Greek form of «twin».

From a biblical point of view the fact that Thomas is called «Didymus» or «twin» may have a symbolic or representative meaning in the context of the Gospel narrative. Some scholars suggest that this nickname may reflect the duality of Thomas’ faith: on the one hand, his unbelief and skepticism in the face of Jesus’ resurrection, as shown in John 20:24-25; and on the other hand, his profound confession of faith when he finally acknowledges Jesus as his Lord and his God, as recorded in John 20:28.

In any case, the designation «Didymus» or «twin» could also allude to the dual or ambivalent nature of Thomas’ personality, which oscillates between doubt and faith, between unbelief and confession of faith. This duality in the figure of Thomas can serve as a reminder for us believers to feel in some way identified with him in terms of our experience of faith that is sometimes so changeable and in need of certainties, but above all always understood by Jesus and lends itself to a personal experience of encounter with Him that transforms our gaze and allows us to confess Him as the Lord of our life. 

ASK YOURSELF

  • How do I identify with Thomas and how does his experience of encountering the Risen Jesus help me?
  • Does the resurrection have the transforming power it had in the lives of the disciples in my own life?

INVITATION

Let us allow ourselves to be invited by Pope Francis to concretize our believing experience like Thomas: «In the saving contact with the wounds of the Risen One, Thomas manifests his own wounds, his own wounds, his own lacerations, his own humiliation; in the mark of the nails he finds the decisive proof that he was loved, awaited, understood. He finds himself before a Messiah full of gentleness, mercy and tenderness. That was the Lord he was looking for, he, in the secret depths of his own being, because he had always known that he was like that. How many of us seek in the depths of our hearts to find Jesus, just as he is: sweet, merciful, tender! Because we know, deep down, that He is like that. Having rediscovered personal contact with the kindness and merciful patience of Christ, Thomas understands the profound meaning of his Resurrection and, intimately transformed, declares his full and total faith in him, exclaiming: «My Lord and my God» (v. 28). Beautiful, beautiful expression, this of Thomas! (Regina Coeli, April 12, 2015).

Sr. Sandra M. Velásquez Bedoya, tc

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LECTIO DIVINA EASTER OF RESURRECTION

FIRST READING

A reading from the book of the Acts of the Apostles 10:34a. 37-43 «This man they killed, hanging him on a tree. But God raised him up on the third day.»

In the first reading, taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, we are reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his glorious resurrection on the third day. This passage teaches us that, despite death and suffering, the final victory belongs to God, who has the power to give life even to those who have been crucified.

PSALM 117:1-2. 16-17. 22-23 «This is the day that the Lord has made: let it be our joy and our gladness.»

In Psalm 117, the greatness of God is proclaimed and the joy we feel as we celebrate the day the Lord made for our joy and gladness. It is a day of rejoicing and hope, because in it we remember the victory of Christ over death and the promise of eternal life that, as we have already said, he offers us in the beloved Son of the Father.

SECOND READING from the letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians 3:1-4

«When Christ, your life, appears, then you also will appear glorious together with him.»

The second reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, invites us to seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. It reminds us that our true life is hidden with Christ in God, and that when He appears, we too will appear glorious together with Him. Death is not the end for a believer who has allowed himself to be reconciled with his Father in the Son; it is the way to reach the definitive encounter with the One from whom we come and to whom we belong.

FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN 20:1-9.

 «They have taken away the Lord from the tomb and we do not know where they have laid him.»

On this long-awaited Sunday of Easter dawn, we joyfully celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who conquered death by fulfilling his promise and opened the gates of eternal life.

LISTEN

In the Gospel according to John, we are told of the moment when Mary Magdalene discovers that the tomb of Jesus is empty. This scene reminds us of the surprise and confusion of the disciples at the resurrection of Christ, and invites us to reflect on the mystery of the new life that he offers us.

Mary Magdalene was such a follower of Jesus that today the Gospel mentions her as a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. In 2016, Pope Francis named her «Apostle to the Apostles,» recognizing her importance in spreading the message of Jesus.  She is an example of fidelity in love, of courage and daring in not sheltering from the fear and fatality that the disciples were experiencing after the death on the Cross of the Master and the certainty that all his followers could suffer the same fate.

CONTEMPLA

At dawn on the morning of the resurrection, Mary visits the tomb and, overcome with zeal because she sees that her Lord has been taken away and does not know where he has been placed, she communicates her bewilderment, sadness and anxiety to the other apostles. This announcement brings Peter and «that other disciple who ran more», suspected to be John, out of fear and anonymity and sets them on a determined and coherent path with their call as disciples.

We have all experienced at some time how love or what we love is threatened and paradoxically fear makes us courageous, gives us lucidity and wisdom to face the struggles and resistance that suffering brings with it.

ASK YOURSELF

What does it mean for you to contemplate the empty tomb? What feelings come to your mind when you know that the death of Jesus did not have the Last Word? How can you give a reason for the Resurrection of the Lord? What would be your announcement?

INVITATION

In this Easter season, we remember with gratitude the redemptive sacrifice of Christ, his victory over death and the promise of eternal life for all those who believe in him. May the joy of the resurrection fill our hearts and inspire us to live as witnesses to the hope we have in Christ Jesus. Alleluia, Christ is risen!

Sr. Sandra Milena Velásquez B, tc

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Lectio Sunday march 24, 2024

LECTIO DIVINA SUNDAY OF PALM, Cycle B

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7: «Therefore I hardened my face like a rock, knowing that I would not be disappointed (cf. Is 50:7).

 The prophet Isaiah presents us with the figure of the suffering servant, describing him as a «disciple and envoy» with a message of consolation: «He has given me the tongue of the initiate to speak a word of encouragement to the brokenhearted» (cf. Is 50:4), and goes on to say: «He has opened his ear to me. I did not resist nor did I back down, he has strengthened him to «Withstand the outrages and spittle of his assailants», certain that he would not be defrauded.» (Cf. Is, 50, 4;9a)

Psalm 22: «My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Ps. 22:1).

This psalm, in its interpretation attributed to the Elohist school, does not contradict the portrait of the suffering servant presented to us by Isaiah, certain that no matter how much he suffers, he will not be disappointed. Some hermeneuticists and exegetes suggest that, by putting these words in the mouth of Jesus in the torture of the cross, allusion is made to the prayer of the third hour that every Jew offered on Friday. He, associated with his faith, joins the psalmist, but he never feels abandoned or left by the Father, and even less so at the culminating moment of his sacrifice and surrender for love.»

Second Reading: Philippians 2:6 – 11

 «He took the form of a slave, making himself in the likeness of men. (Cf Phil, 2, 7) Jesus passed through the world as one of many, demonstrating to us that we were created for love and in the image of God and that likeness to Him is our daily task. Yet Jesus: «He did not boast of his status as God; on the contrary, he emptied himself and became a slave. Therefore God exalted him, giving him the name that is above every name.» (Phil 2:6-8).

Gospel, Mark 14:1-15; 47: «The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark is placed by its author and by its close link with Peter before the community of the Romans, whom Mark wished to strengthen in time of persecution with all his accounts. Mark presents Jesus in his passion as a model in suffering and as the savior of those who believe in him.»

LET’S LISTEN:

After reading Mark’s Gospel in its innumerable details to frame the context of the Lord’s passion, it is important to highlight an itinerary along which the Gospel leads us. It all begins with the detail of the meeting and the anointing in Bethany and the crisscross interpretations around the «waste of the perfume» to which some of his disciples allude, trying to persuade the others that it could have been better sold to distribute it among the poor.

Continuing this itinerary of the Gospel presenting the dialogue around the details of the preparation of the Passover supper and the story highlights the dialogue between Jesus and his disciples during it, triggering the betrayal of Judas, the denial of Peter, the arrest of Jesus, the confrontation before Pilate, the torture of the condemnation, the scourging, the road to Golgotha with the cross on his back and finally the death and burial of Jesus .»

LET US CONTEMPLATE:

We all know the details of this story and its bloody denouement; but let us dwell on some clear expressions and contemplate from the memory of the heart these words letting them sink deep into our believing experience:

  1. «She has gone ahead to embalm my body for the burial».
  2. they promised money to Judas Iscariot.
  3. Where is the room where I will eat the Passover with my disciples? 
  4. «One of you will betray me, one who is here eating with me.
  5. «This is my body, this is my blood, the blood of the covenant.
  6. «Before the cock crows twice, you have denied me three times.
  7. «He began to feel terror and anguish». 
  8. «Take him and hold him fast». 
  9. «Thou art the Messiah, the Son of God».
  10. «I do not know this man.
  11. «What say ye? do ye want me to release to you the king of the Jews?
  12. «They put on him a crown of thorns which they had twisted together. They took Jesus to Golgotha and crucified him.
  13. «He has saved others, let him save himself.»
  14. «Jesus gave a loud cry, and breathed his last». 
  15. «Joseph of Arimathea rolled a stone at the entrance of the tomb.»

It is important to pause and allow these expressions to resonate in the depths of our being. Each word can confront our faith and strengthen our hope. 

ASK US

How can we actualize the Passion of Christ in our daily lives? How can we adhere to his sacrifice of love, without feeling that death on the Cross is a defeat?

INVITATION

In this time of grace that Palm Sunday inaugurates, let us dispose our hearts to actualize the mystery of the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection in our own lives. May these experiences help us to understand the redemptive meaning of suffering and above all to long with hope for the dawn of Easter and the encounter with the Lord of life who conquers death with his resurrection.

Sr. Sandra Milena Velásquez Bedoya, tc

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In Lent – Perfume the head… (Mt 6:17-18)

We all know that Lent is a time of reflection, of change, of conversion. It is like a path of spiritual rebirth, moving towards the NEW FIRE in the Easter celebration. Often, this time of change goes unnoticed by each of us, as we settle for external attitudes of renunciation, fasting, penance, without allowing ourselves to be touched by the person of Jesus who impels us towards the other, allowing Lent to truly transform our lives.

Our existence undergoes several transformations; we are in constant change and we always give off AROMAS that attract or repel those around us. The time of Lent is the moment to look for the fragrance that can be a good aroma on the road we travel, so that it absorbs all our essence and lives intensely the logic of Lent, which is to RESURCISE.

GOOD FRAGRANCE puts us in tune with reconciliation with ourselves, with others and with God. This is the great path of Lent: RECONCILIATION. We need to ask ourselves constantly on this path: WHERE AND WITH WHAT, OR WITH WHOM SHOULD I RECONCILIATE?

On this path of inner transformation and renewal, we must leave behind the old habits so that the new man and the new woman are born in the heart. This rescues our look of hope for a new beginning, a new Easter.

Our current reality shows that we live in a culture of indifference, individualism, intolerance, prejudice… everything is transitory, and so, at times, we allow ourselves to be enveloped by this transience and miss the opportunity to live our day to day life more intensely as a blessing. Lent challenges us to RISE from our own ashes, to let go of the ephemeral and let ourselves be intoxicated by the FRAGANCE of the Resurrection.

«You are all brothers and sisters» (Mt 23:8), this is the fragrance that we must take leave of, experienced in this Lenten season. Our faith reminds us of this BROTHERHOOD, where the other is always brother and sister; without this awareness, there is no Easter.

Reflecting on the Passion of Jesus during this time, with its climax at Easter, warms and enlightens our being to reach this deeper connection with God, who invites us to be heralds of the message of mercy and hope, joy and love of this great Easter experience. May the experience of this Lent help us to «Enlarge the space of our tent» (cf. Is 54:2), opening us to the NEW FRAGANCE that impels us to continue seeking and building this new dream of fraternity.

We ask the Holy Spirit to sustain our march, to help us not to stop along the way, since we are pilgrims in this life. May He allow us to always give off the good fragrance, advancing along the Lenten path and infecting those who seek to feel in us the love of Jesus….

Lord Jesus, allow us to live this time as a grace and gift in changing our own way of being and being. It challenges us to go out of ourselves with all that distances us from You. It invites us to welcome your risen presence, leading us to live the Lenten walk in this inner desert, breaking our masks and opening ourselves to the birth of this new life, which is me. So be it.

Sister Julia Maria da Silva Irio, tc

Mother of the Good Shepherd Province

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MYSTICISM, PROPHECY AND TESTIMONY

Mysticism, prophecy and witness, three key words with which the text of the Inspiring Horizon begins and which I consider to be the pillars of our consecrated life today. As young consecrated men and women, it is likely that at times the word «mysticism» makes some «noise» to us. It is a term that is more or less distant from our times and, for that very reason, it seems somewhat difficult to awaken interest in young religious. However, it is not as complex as we think; it is closely related to spirituality and contemplation. Now, contemplation is a grace, a gift of the Spirit, of the Ruah of God that is born in prayer and makes us capable of discovering Him in everything and everyone. This is a truth that Francis of Assisi knew how to live and that is why it is said of him that he was «no longer only prayerful, but prayer» (2 Celano, 24-25. On the prayer of St. Francis), all contemplation. What was his secret? To allow himself to be embraced by the merciful love of God the Father and to know himself (and also to feel himself) the son and brother of all creation and, in it, human beings are naturally included. How good it would be to join Francis in singing: Praised be you, my Lord, for my brothers and sisters! Because that is what it is all about when we read that to be religious in today’s world is «a continuous exercise in the search to become sowers of universal soro-brotherhood» 1.

So, as a first point, it is fundamental to remember that as New Generations «on the move», to recognize this when we open our eyes in the morning and dispose ourselves to the life that is given to us, is a daily task. In this same line of approaching these three words, prophecy may seem a little more familiar to us. In fact, for the heart of a young consecrated person it tends to enliven the missionary and evangelizing fire, especially if we remember so many men and women who have been prophets on our Latin American soil, announcing and denouncing, walking alongside our people, and giving their lives for the Kingdom in often forgotten places (so many martyrs and missionaries! Casaldáliga, Romero, Labaka, Gerardi…). Las Mujeres del Alba: Las Mujeres del Alba: Reflexiones a partir del Horizonte Inspirador Nuevas Generaciones en «movimiento» MOVIMIENTO No 6 Hacia la utopía del Reino: un mundo de hermanas y hermanos ¬- (Women of the Dawn: Reflections from the Inspiring Horizon New Generations in «movement» MOVEMENT No 6 Towards the utopia of the Kingdom: a world of sisters and brothers).

And that’s good. It is very good. However, I believe that walking towards the utopia of the Kingdom implies, in the first place, to desire the way of being and proceeding of those women of the first Christian community, those of the dawn; that prophetic way of living from the Master that summons to soro-fraternity. That is the «where» of the Gospel that goes beyond a place, and is closer to what it means to be with Jesus in the brother and sister, in the other…To be in movement from the prophecy demands us to assimilate that we are children and brothers and sisters by the Son and with the Son, and, therefore, we are called to announce that which binds us: God is our Father, Father of all. And not necessarily from great campaigns (although it is also valid), but from the reality in which we are immersed: sometimes it will be among the poor, among children and young people, with the elderly, migrants… but at other times it will also be our turn to be brothers and sisters within our religious communities. Brothers, let us not forget the latter, because I believe that Jesus learned precisely how to be a brother, among those close to him, with his family, with the apostles, with his friends in

Bethany. From this experience of soro-fraternity in our religious family, we will go out to others, called, as Pope Francis says, to «try to meet each other, to seek points of contact, to build bridges, to plan something that includes everyone…»

(Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, num.16), and that something is the family that Jesus dreamed of for everyone: his Kingdom of love.

Finally, as we approach the third word, witness, we refer to the concrete, to what is palpable in daily life. At this point, it is good to look at Jesus who, being a Son, lived as a brother: «When I was with them, I took care of those you gave me in your name. I watched over them, and not one of them was lost…» (Jn 17:12). It is about a Jesus who loved and from that love lived and cared for others. As New Generations on the move, witnessing first implies loving, and from loving, living, walking, accompanying and caring for so many brothers and sisters that God has placed in our hands to make them sharers in his love. Therefore, let us make the utopia of the Kingdom a reality! It seems like a dream, but as Pope Francis said at the recent WYD in Lisbon: «Do not be afraid, be courageous, go forward, knowing that we are «amortized» by the love that God has for us…» (Pope Francis, XXXVIII World Youth Day, Welcoming Ceremony, Thursday, August 3, 2023).

Sister Iria Agreda, tc

Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Lectio Sunday march 17, 2024

Lectio for the fifth sunday of lent

First Reading (Jeremiah 31:31-34): God announces a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the old covenant, written on tablets of stone, but God will inscribe his law in the hearts of his people. All will know the Lord and be forgiven of their sins.

Psalm 50: Invites us to ask God for a pure heart and to recognize our need for his mercy. May the Lord renew us from within and guide us in his ways.

Second Reading (Hebrews 5:7-9): Christ presents himself as the author of eternal salvation. In spite of his anguish, Jesus obeyed unto death and became the source of life for all who follow him.

Gospel (John 12:20-33): Jesus announces that the hour of his glorification has come. Like the grain of wheat that dies to bear fruit, he will also give himself for our salvation and by following Christ, we will find eternal life.

A new day begins and we wake up at dawn to listen and contemplate, both attitudes are fundamental to approach God and his will. Listening implies being attentive, receptive and willing to obey. Contemplating implies admiring, thanking and praising. Both attitudes help us to enter into communion with God and with others.

Listening.

Today’s liturgy is full of verses that renew the believer’s Hope. The Passover is approaching and therefore Jesus’ discourse is aimed at making the disciples aware of the end that awaits him and the blessings that his death will bring to all those who believe in HIM.

Contemplate.

Jesus uses the analogy of the grain of wheat to convey a profound spiritual truth to his disciples and to us. Here are some reasons why Jesus made this comparison:

Death and New Life: Like a grain of wheat that falls into the ground and dies, Jesus knew that his own death on the cross would be the crucial act that would give rise to new life. His sacrifice would not be in vain; instead of remaining alone, like an unsown grain of wheat, his death would bear abundant fruit.

Redemption and Salvation: The grain of wheat must die to release its potential for growth. Similarly, Jesus’ death was not a failure, but a redemptive act. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus offers us salvation and reconciliation with God.

3.The Way of the Cross: Jesus was aware of his destiny on the cross. By comparing himself to a grain of wheat, he taught us that the way to eternal life is through the total gift of self.

Invitation.

The analogy of the grain of wheat is also an example of Humility and Obedience because the grain of wheat does not resist its destiny; it falls to the ground and dies. That is why we ask ourselves:

– Do you humbly accept the Father’s invitation to listen to his Son (Mk 9:7b)?

– Is every day a new opportunity to set out on the road?

– Do you live each day the call of Jesus to conversion? What gestures show this?

– What areas of your life need transformation? What must you let «die» in order to experience new spiritual growth?

Prayer.

May these readings inspire us to live with hope and to follow Jesus, who shows us the way to true life. Amen.

S. Mariulis Grehan, tc

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Lectio Sunday march 10, 2024

4TH SUNDAY OF LENT, <<LAETARE>>, CYCLE B

Every year the Fourth Sunday of Lent, wearing pink, makes us realize that we have already walked more than halfway to the joy of Easter. The entrance antiphon of the Eucharist begins with the invitation «Laetare, Ierusalem», that is «Rejoice, O Jerusalem…» (Is 66:10). The liturgy of the Word of this day will remind us of the deep and inexhaustible springs of joy that God himself brings forth in the midst of every reality in which we live.

First reading – from the second book of Chronicles 36, 14-16. 19-23

God is still determined to walk with his people, even when they do not correspond to him. And when all seems lost (the temple destroyed, the people exiled…) God makes a new hope rise from the ruins. And he does it by a surprising, unexpected way: through someone outside the chosen people: Cyrus, the king of Persia. God’s faithfulness and mercy reach far beyond what we are capable of perceiving. Is this not a reason for profound joy?

Psalm 136:1-2. 3. 4. 5. 6 R. The psalm is a lamentation of the people in exile from Babylon. The refusal to sing the songs proper to Zion (of the temple) in a foreign land and for the amusement of the oppressor is intertwined with the purpose of not forgetting the Holy City «summit of joys». Cultivating the memory of the sacred places of our personal salvation history can help us to stay connected to what grounds us, even in the midst of the banishments we also experience at times.

Second reading – from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 2, 4-10

St. Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus (and to us) insisting that salvation is something that is already present («you are saved») and is a free gift of God («by pure grace»), whose love reaches further than sin («because of the great love with which he loved us, when we were dead because of sins, he made us alive again with Christ»). Salvation, grace, faith, love… These are words that we still use very often today. Let us allow them to touch our hearts again today, on Laetare Sunday, and fill them with joy.

Gospel according to John 3:14-21

In this Sunday’s Gospel pericope we hear part of Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a Jewish leader. The dialogue takes place at night, shortly after Jesus’ prophetic gesture in the temple. We are struck by the clarity with which Jesus speaks to Nicodemus of his death, of the salvation and light that he brings to humanity. In fact, we meet Nicodemus only twice more (and only in the Gospel according to John). It will be Nicodemus who will insist to those who wanted to kill Jesus that no one can be condemned without trial (Jn 7:50-52) and then who will bring myrrh and aloes for his burial (Jn 19:39). Jesus entrusts his being, his mystery also to people who are insecure, searching, doubtful, undecided… To Nicodemus, to his «hidden» dialogue with Jesus, we owe the great news that «God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through him might be saved.» Is this not a reason for hope and joy?

Contemplate

  • GOD IS SALVATION. Jesus reminds Nicodemus of one of the events that took place during the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land: «Moses made a bronze serpent and placed it on a standard. When a serpent bit someone, he looked at the bronze serpent and saved his life» (Num 21:9). He warns that «As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life». Lent places before our eyes Jesus crucified. And we can only accept the invitation to look at him and let ourselves be saved by him. God really cares about our salvation and wants it even more than we do: he wants us to live in his love forever. Let us look at Jesus and let ourselves be looked at by him.
  • GOD IS LOVE. And because he loves the world, every person, every creature with an immeasurable love, he gives us everything: «God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world through him might be saved». Sometimes we fall into the temptation of thinking that God is very focused on looking at and searching for our sins, our faults, imperfections… And it is quite the opposite: he is very focused on loving and saving us. Surely we have the experience of feeling loved by someone (parents, grandparents, siblings, husband, wife, a friend…). And we know how valuable this experience of a free and sincere love is, even though it is so human…. How much more God’s love? It can do us good today to pray, to dialogue with God about his love and about our belief?
  • GOD IS LIGHT. And it is significant that Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, who comes in secret and at night, about the light: «he who works the truth comes to the light, so that it may be seen that his works are done according to God». Nicodemus seems to have doubts: he perceives the truth that Jesus brings, but he is not yet able to give himself to it with full decision, in broad daylight. It happens to us too: we approach God with greater courage when we are able to name our truth, whether it is beautiful, poor or even shameful. We can be sure that Jesus also wants to speak to us, to remind us of the salvation, love and light that he brings. Let us give ourselves, on this journey towards the light of Easter, the experience of drawing close to God, of letting ourselves be illuminated by his light, of standing before him with all our truth.

Invitation

God’s salvation is already present in the reality of our lives. And while we could perhaps more easily name causes to be concerned about the reality of the world or our personal reality, faith invites us to joy: «Rejoice, O Jerusalem». Let us welcome the invitation to encounter Jesus in the midst of our nights, to welcome God’s love for us, to experience his salvation that reaches beyond what we are able to perceive, and to walk in his light and truth. Today is an excellent day to connect with the deepest wellsprings of our joy and happiness and to rest in God who is SALVATION, LIGHT AND LOVE.

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Lectio Sunday march 3, 2024

3RD SUNDAY OF LENT, CYCLE B

First Reading, Exodus (20:1-17): God once again takes the initiative to establish a special RELATIONSHIP with his people, a covenant – this is what this first reading of today’s liturgy reminds us. God in some way puts himself within our reach, allows himself to be taken to heart: «I am the Lord your God» and draws before the people an image of peace, justice and mutual respect that we know as the Decalogue. It can help us to look at it not so much as «commandments» as «promises»: God tells us that if we accept him as Lord and God among us there will be no theft, adultery, lies or betrayal. The covenant demands me, but it also protects me. It is one of the expressions of God’s love for us, his people.

Psalm 18, 8. 9. 10. 11: The psalm is a song full of gratitude for the law with which the Lord instructs us. The experience that the psalmist transmits to us can also be done by us remembering our RELATIONSHIP with Him: the moments in which the Word of God has been for us «rest», the «light» that the Lord has given us in some moment of doubt or darkness, the «sweetness» that we have experienced in our relationship with God… It is an invitation to sing from our heart «Lord, you have the words of eternal life».

Contemplate

Jesus and his disciples went up to Jerusalem, probably singing, as was the custom of the pilgrims, one of the psalms: «What joy it was when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord (…) to celebrate the name of the Lord'» (Ps 122:1,4). But if we try to unite ourselves wholeheartedly to the group of Jesus’ disciples who enter the temple with their Master, perhaps we will be able to perceive how strange he felt in the temple. In Jesus, God comes «to the end» to humanity. Gratuitously, even «in spite of everything». And humanity does not try to «celebrate the name of the Lord» but to buy it. The temple, which was to be a sign of the covenant with God (relationship!), becomes «a marketplace». The evangelist tells us that the disciples, upon observing Jesus, remember another very different psalm: «The zeal of your house devours me» (Ps 69:10). If today the disciples of Jesus were to enter with us into our temple, our space of encounter with God, what psalm would they intone? What would they sing when they reached our hearts?

If we read the text carefully we can see that what is directly affected by Jesus’ indignation are the sheep, the oxen, the coins, the tables of the money changers and perhaps the stalls of the pigeon sellers. Things. Not people. For people there is always room in the Father’s house. With his gesture Jesus makes it clear that in relationship with God we do not need to bargain, to exchange something for his favors. God desires a personal RELATIONSHIP with us. What he wants is that we «celebrate his name» and that we let him enjoy us. And that our life be enkindled, enlightened, beautified in relationship with Him.

The word «temple» appears several times in this Sunday’s pericope. St. John points out the difference in the understanding of its meaning between the Jews and Jesus. The former speak of a building built over 46 years and which has replaced the previous ones. Jesus speaks first of «my Father’s house» and then of «the temple of his body». The former went from considering the temple as a place of encounter with God to converting religion into commerce and the temple into a marketplace. And it is also a temptation for us to want to «earn God’s favors» by mark of… Jesus points out, in this prophetic gesture that he makes, that now, it is not a building, but he himself is the place of encounter with the Father.

And of course we need concrete spaces (churches, chapels, oratories…) that help us to pray. But it is precisely their role is to facilitate silence and the encounter in communion of brothers and sisters, to enter into the heart of Jesus and with Him into the heart of the Father in the Holy Spirit. There we all find ourselves: in RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, in His Heart.

Invitation:

The whole liturgy of the Word this Sunday makes us an invitation to review our RELATIONSHIP with God. And perhaps it would do us good not so much to think about it as to ask Jesus what he would say to us today. Perhaps there is also in our heart some ox (or a small and shiny coin…) with which we want to negotiate with God. It is good that we allow ourselves to be reminded by Jesus that his love is gratuitous, merciful and goes to the extreme, beyond our misery. Let us look at Jesus crucified and learn from him what God is like (and how he is a fully human person).

Sr. Alicja  Grzywocz , tc

Province of Nazaret

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