DIOCESE OF GALLUP

Sisters’ Jubilee Mass

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Dear Friends,

     Let me begin by congratulating four jubilarians and in the name of each of you and the entire diocese offer a sincere word of gratitude for your years of generous service as vowed religious. The Church of Gallup and whatever local Church you have served over the years is much stronger and more aware of Christ’s mission because of your devoted and your loyal service and commitment. Thank you! Thank you!

     Normally the Holy Father chooses a very specific theme each year for the celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life. For some reason this was not done this year except that all were encouraged to celebrate the vocation of vowed religious either this weekend or next. Since no specific scripture texts were suggested, I chose to use the scripture for today’s liturgy and to highlight during this year of the Eucharist the powerful relationship between the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood and our commitment as vowed members of various religious congregations.

     As I meditated on today’s scripture readings, they seemed more and more appropriate for today’s jubilee celebration.   Our first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews recounts some of the events from ancient times which teach that nothing is impossible for those who place their faith in God. It reflected on the persistent faith of Abraham in order to strengthen the faith of the new Christians. “As a result of this faith, there came forth from a man, who was himself as good as dead, decedents as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the seashore.” Abraham and Sarah experienced and accomplished what would be considered as impossible at their ages, even in today’s world. We, too, are called to hear the word of God, and to reflect on the fact that trusting in God’s providence will bring the unseen and impossible into reality.

     Today’s Gospel tells of the needless fear the disciples experienced during the storm at sea. They had Jesus in their midst, close enough that they could touch him yet they seemed to lack faith. They were in awe after seeing the miracle Jesus worked to calm the storm, but they were still bewildered about who he was. “Who can this be that the wind and sea obey him?” Jesus is in our midst to help us, to save us, if we acknowledge him as Son of God, and place our hope in him. We can flounder through life, trying to keep our boat from sinking in the storms in life, or we can call on Jesus and witness the results of our faith when we put our fears and hopes into his hands.

     And how best to do that, especially as vowed religious then through our belief in and our celebration of the Sacrament of Eucharist. For in the Eucharist, in the humble signs of bread and wine, changed into his Body and Blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey, and he enables us to become, for everyone, witnesses of hope.

     Our modern culture badly needs witnesses of hope for it suffers from what our Holy Father calls “an eclipse of the sense of God.” Large segments of our secularized society show a disdain for and disregard of the transcendent.   This has led to a spiritual impoverishment in the midst of material abundance and to a treatment of persons as objects of pleasure, as pawns for profit and even disposable beings. Sadly, it leaves a terrible void in the human heart that, even unconsciously, cries out for something more. That Asomething more@ we posses in Christ; that “something more” we touch and taste every time we celebrate the sacred liturgy. That “something more” is what Christ asks us to share with men and women of our age. We can only share what we have first received. And the greatest gift we receive, if not daily, at least frequently is our Eucharistic Christ.

     And most importantly, and I am sure you have all learned this in your personal experiences as vowed religious men and women, a fervent love of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist leads to a genuine love of Christ’s present in the bodies and souls of our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable and poor. As a Eucharistic people, we must continue to do our part to oppose all forms of disrespect for the dignity of life and all forms of injustice, while we continue to respond to the challenge to become servants of mercy and forgiveness. As our Holy Father said so eloquently in his encyclical on the Eucharist: “All those who come worthily for nourishment at His table become living instruments of His presence of love, mercy and peace.”

     Sister Jubilarians, thank you for the marvelous and unique way each of you in your lives have resounded to this call. And for each and everyone of us gathered here today let us pray for the grace that our Consecrated lives may continue to be a prophetic sign of the work of God and Christ’s Kingdom.

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	Sisters’ Jubilee Mass Saturday, January 29, 2005 Dear Friends, Let me begin by congratulating four jubilarians and in the name of each of you and the entire diocese offer a sincere word of gratitude for your years of generous service as vowed religious. The Church of Gallup and whatever local Church you have served over the years is much stronger and more aware of Christ’s mission because of your devoted and your loyal service and commitment. Thank you! Thank you! Normally the Holy Father chooses a very specific theme each year for the celebration of the World Day for Consecrated Life. For some reason this was not done this year except that all were encouraged to celebrate the vocation of vowed religious either this weekend or next. Since no specific scripture texts were suggested, I chose to use the scripture for today’s liturgy and to highlight during this year of the Eucharist the powerful relationship between the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood and our commitment as vowed members of various religious congregations. As I meditated on today’s scripture readings, they seemed more and more appropriate for today’s jubilee celebration. Our first reading from the Letter to the Hebrews recounts some of the events from ancient times which teach that nothing is impossible for those who place their faith in God. It reflected on the persistent faith of Abraham in order to strengthen the faith of the new Christians. “As a result of this faith, there came forth from a man, who was himself as good as dead, decedents as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sands of the seashore.” Abraham and Sarah experienced and accomplished what would be considered as impossible at their ages, even in today’s world. We, too, are called to hear the word of God, and to reflect on the fact that trusting in God’s providence will bring the unseen and impossible into reality. Today’s Gospel tells of the needless fear the disciples experienced during the storm at sea. They had Jesus in their midst, close enough that they could touch him yet they seemed to lack faith. They were in awe after seeing the miracle Jesus worked to calm the storm, but they were still bewildered about who he was. “Who can this be that the wind and sea obey him?” Jesus is in our midst to help us, to save us, if we acknowledge him as Son of God, and place our hope in him. We can flounder through life, trying to keep our boat from sinking in the storms in life, or we can call on Jesus and witness the results of our faith when we put our fears and hopes into his hands. And how best to do that, especially as vowed religious then through our belief in and our celebration of the Sacrament of Eucharist. For in the Eucharist, in the humble signs of bread and wine, changed into his Body and Blood, Christ walks beside us as our strength and our food for the journey, and he enables us to become, for everyone, witnesses of hope. Our modern culture badly needs witnesses of hope for it suffers from what our Holy Father calls “an eclipse of the sense of God.” Large segments of our secularized society show a disdain for and disregard of the transcendent. This has led to a spiritual impoverishment in the midst of material abundance and to a treatment of persons as objects of pleasure, as pawns for profit and even disposable beings. Sadly, it leaves a terrible void in the human heart that, even unconsciously, cries out for something more. That Asomething more@ we posses in Christ; that “something more” we touch and taste every time we celebrate the sacred liturgy. That “something more” is what Christ asks us to share with men and women of our age. We can only share what we have first received. And the greatest gift we receive, if not daily, at least frequently is our Eucharistic Christ. And most importantly, and I am sure you have all learned this in your personal experiences as vowed religious men and women, a fervent love of the Body of Christ in the Eucharist leads to a genuine love of Christ’s present in the bodies and souls of our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable and poor. As a Eucharistic people, we must continue to do our part to oppose all forms of disrespect for the dignity of life and all forms of injustice, while we continue to respond to the challenge to become servants of mercy and forgiveness. As our Holy Father said so eloquently in his encyclical on the Eucharist: “All those who come worthily for nourishment at His table become living instruments of His presence of love, mercy and peace.” Sister Jubilarians, thank you for the marvelous and unique way each of you in your lives have resounded to this call. And for each and everyone of us gathered here today let us pray for the grace that our Consecrated lives may continue to be a prophetic sign of the work of God and Christ’s Kingdom. Back