How Do You Know… and What will your response be?
“Whom do you love, and do you wish to follow the one whom you love?”
St. Augustine
Candidates praying in Costa Rica
This question posed by St. Augustine in one of his sermons, gives a clear indication of why we follow the call to enter religious life. “We seek to follow in the footsteps of our Lord, out of love.”
Not all are invited to this way of life; it is a special invitation posed to us. It is a gift that we can take or leave, a gift that will bring great joy and peace and at times, great trials and difficulties. Often, one may have the misconception that this way of life can be chosen, when in reality, God chooses us for this life. However, we have the freedom to respond to that invitation.
In Seeking God’s Will….
One can follow four simple steps: Stop, Look, Listen, and Respond. First, we need to stop from our ordinary routine, that sometimes can be very busy and chaotic. Stopping helps us to look and see where God has been and continues to be present to us. In looking, we try to listen. It is in the silence of our hearts and minds that we can hear the voice of God: the Call. After quality time has been spent going through these steps, responding is next.
The Novices receiving Fr. John's Blessing
At times we may not like what we see or hear, but, it’s important that we do take action. It’s only through our actions and responses that we will begin to find clarity. How often do we find our selves afraid to take action? It’s only by following through with an action, that we can either close the door or discover a new one!
