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