Casa Maria Marianists

Mass: Wednesday, May 26, 2010
First Reading: 1 Pt 1:18-25
Responsorial: Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20
Gospel: Mk 10:34-45

Reflection

At morning prayer, I posed a question for possible reflection of the day: How will the choices I make today reflect a vocation committed to leading myself and others to God’s love?

So, how did we do today?

As educators, I’m sure we are familiar with the many ways we can educate others about the values of our Marianist life through words, actions and examples.

One particularly powerful way of educating others—beyond words, actions and examples—is through our choices.

What actions of our day reflected our choice to live this vocation and accept its privileges and limitations?

What actions of our day reflected our choice to live not just the letter of the vows, but the spirit of the vows—which ask us to go above and beyond what we are asked to do?

What actions of our day reflected our choice to live this vocation with joy and happiness—and share that with those around us, in ministry and community?

In life, the choices we make often result in some consequences and costs. For Jesus, the choice to follow his vocation cost him his life.

For those who choose to live religious life, it costs us the ability to make decisions on our own about what we do, where we live and with whom with live.

For those who profess the vow of stability, it costs us the option of having a contingency plan where we can wait and see until it all turns out before making a commitment.

For those who risk sharing God’s love and expressing that through healthy affection for one another costs us the risk of being rejected.

Sometimes, it’s the little things that we choose to do that can teach others a lot about what we cherish and value about our Marianist vocation.

Courtesy of Brother Jerry Matz, retired sociology professor of St. Mary’s University, this is a list of simple, everyday choices we can make:

At the end of your day, ask yourself, “Today, have I…”

• Greeted someone by his/her first name?
• Smiled at someone?
• Hugged someone?
• Complimented someone?
• Affirmed someone?
• Thanked someone?
• Laughed with someone?
• Offered a potentially-helpful suggestion to someone?
• Listened attentively and patiently to someone?
• Offered to help someone?
• Actually helped someon?
• Given someone some of my valuable time?
• Shown patience with someone who frustrates me or whom I dislike?
• Tried to cheer-up someone?
• Prayed for someone?

(excertps from a list developed by Brother Jerome Matz, S.M., Ph.D.)

At profession, we each made a public commitment to choose our vocation again and again. Choosing is central to loving; choosing again and again is essential to the deepening and growth of that love—and it is love that keeps us faithful.

Let us pray that the eucharist that we receive today strengthen us in our commitment to choose, time and again, to reflect a vocation committed to leading myself and others to God’s love.