Six simple ways to live religious life

During the year of consecrated life I would like to present a simple reflection. It is a sermon I did some year ago at a first profession of PHJC sisters.

1^st reading: Is 61:9-11

2^nd reading: Col 3:12-17

Gospel: Mt 22:1-10

Dear Sisters, I would like to invite you to recall the moments, years ago, when you left your home and your village to enter in this congregation. You were full of excitement for the new adventure, a bit of worry not knowing what it would be like, and maybe a bit of sadness having to leave your family and friends. Now you are going back. People will see you different, and indeed you are different. What makes up such difference? Is it because you left in a colourful shalwar and are coming back in a spotless white habit or a cream and brown sari? Much more than that. Is it because you left when you were a 16 years old girl and now go back more mature, confident? Much more than that. When you left people were considering you as “one of them”, now they think that “you belong to God”. It is true, you belong to God. But we have to understand properly what that “belong to God” means, otherwise you may deceive them.

They will praise and honour you, but through your life and style you should be able to tell them that this is all gift from God, and so raise to him the praises and the honour. They will honour you and come to somehow serve you, maybe your mother will not allow you to wash the dishes anymore; Through your lifestyle you should be able to make them understand that your life is to serve, not to be served.

It is no time now to make a lesson about religious life, you had enough during these years of formation. What can I tell you in the day of your consecration? Be generous with the Lord. I tell you a story which is taken from Tagore:

A beggar used to go everyday in front of a temple in order to collect something for his life. One day he realised that there was a sort of commotion, something important was going to happened. Then he saw many horses followed by a beautiful carriage approaching: the King was coming to visit the temple. He was excited for the view, but his excitement became the more when he saw that the carriage of the king stopped just in front of him. In a second he started dreaming of what the king was about to offer to him and how his life was going to change. With his surprised the curtains of the window of the carriage opened and the king put out his hand in a gesture of demand: “what have you to offer?” He was confused and did not know what to do. He put his hand in the bag and took out a small grain of rice which he gave to the king. Without a word the king closed the curtains and the carriage proceeded in his route.

The beggar was disappointed for what had happened. The king didn’t give anything and even more asked for himself: how could that be possible?

In the evening, after returning home, he emptied his bag on the table and to his surprise he noticed that among the pieces of bread and the rice he had collected there was a single shining golden grain. He suddenly felt sad. If he had been more generous with the king, now he would have been much richer.

My dear sisters, the Lord has given you already so much, be generous to him.

A few years ago, Europe was devastated by the world war II. The Nazis seemed to take over the whole continent and the future seemed doomed. The American army decided to enter the conflict and prepared very well their landing operation. The day arrived, which they called the D-Day, the longest day, in which they landed in France. The battle was fierce, but little by little they managed to enter Europe. The reaction of the local population was good and in a couple of years Europe was free and war was over.

Today is your D-Day, a day that the Lord has prepared for long time together with you and your formators. The Lord has planned to flood the world with his grace and has chosen you as a way to do so. Be generous with God, so through you he may bless this society in which so many people see no hope, fear the future. The change is possible and it can start today. You may say: how can we little ones make possible something so great? The answer is in the first two readings. The Lord has clothed us with clothes and jewels which are not made of fabric but of virtues. This habit which you today have chosen represents all these gifts the Lord has already given to you. You want to change the society? Live a life which in itself is a sermon to the world, a stumbling block on which many may bump. Religious life is made mainly by six aspects, all important and all difficult for the outside society to understand: the three vows plus the community life, the apostolate and the prayer. A few months ago all of us had gathered at the meeting of religious called upon by Bishop Moras on February 2^nd. One of the speaker started his talk saying that if the religious in India would continue as for now, in 20 years there would be no more meaning for religious life. Of course he was not speaking of religious life in itself but the lack of prophetic impact we are having now.

Some simple suggestion on how to live a meaningful religious life, suggestions which have very little of theology but come from practical experience.

1. Poverty. In a society that craves for more and more, and with many religious which are never satisfied of what they have but wants more in the name of better efficacy, deserved relax etc. I would say put on the habit of Gratitude. Learn how to say Thank you for everything. Be happy and satisfied with whatever you have and do not look for anything extra.
2. Chastity. In a world where pleasure and satisfaction become the engine of all actions and the person becomes the centre of the world, many religious work looking for acknowledgement, gratification etc. I would say put on the habit of Service. When you serve you put the other at the centre, you get out of yourself and your love becomes pure, similar to the one of God.
3. Obedience. In a world that looks for power, career, satisfaction of own ideas, many religious become also “too professional” in their way of working. I think we will have to ask the mother provincial to open some more houses, one for each of the religious in the province, so that each can be in charge and have to depend on nobody. I would say put on the habit of Trust, in God and in the people around you. You know, not always the way of working of God is similar to yours, but he knows how to attain good also from negative situations. The important is not our personal success but the kingdom of God, not our plan but his.
4. Community. Everybody knows how difficult is sometimes to work together with others. Our communities have often become the place where we pray together, we eat together and little more. I would say put on the habit of Patience and dialogue. We have to rebuild that family spirit which becomes so important when we are faced by difficulties, but to do so we need a lot of dialogue which builds up concern and love.
5. Apostolate. In a society which has become very institutionalized, very demanding. Our social works have become also professional businesses. That is what that speaker meant when he said that religious life was losing its meaning. I would say put on the habit of Kindness to all people and things. The people who approach you are not the target of your work, client of your institution but temples of the Lord, bearer of the Spirit. Through them God wants to talk to you and through you he wants to talk to them, but this communication is possible only if there is love and concern.
6. Last but not the least: Prayer. In a society in which everybody is more and more busy, in which activities are more and more demanding, many religious do not have any more time to pray, and they excuse themselves so well for that. I would say put on the habit of Unity between prayer and life. Do not create separation between what you do in the Church and what you do outside. Everything happens during your day has to be prepared during the morning prayers and receive its thanksgiving during the evening prayer. Everything we reflect on or understand during the prayer has to become reality during the day. Doing so you will always desire to find time for prayer and find real strength in your apostolate.

Remember the Lord has given many gifts, habits and jewels to put on, as we saw in the first and second reading, but all of them are spiritual, because our life either is spiritual or is empty.

May the Lord keep the enthusiasm of today, alive for all the days of your life and surely through you the world will be flooded by the grace of the Lord and the society will change into God’s kingdom.