Peter began to say to [Jesus], "Look, we
have left everything and followed you."
Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or
sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake
of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses,
brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in
the age to come eternal life." (Mark 10:28-30)
Everyone is called to make sacrifices for the sake of the reign of God. For religious sisters, some sacrifices are very specific to the vowed life. Others are common to many or most committed Christians.
Husband and children
According to Sister Sandra Schneiders, IHM, "consecrated celibacy is the constitutive vow of Religious Life. It creates the lifeform of unmediated quest for God to the exclusion of all other primary life commitments" (Selling All [Paulist Press, 2001], p. 132).
Nevertheless, let us not deceive ourselves: giving up marriage and children is a real sacrifice and one not to be entered into lightly.
Autonomy in decision-makingWhile always respecting conscience, the sacrifice of autonomy
can sometimes take the form of living graciously with decisions we don't like.
Community requires consultation and an interdependence which stands in contrast
to the extreme individualism of contemporary Western society.
Remember, however, that if one is to be in relationship with others in this
world, complete autonomy is impossible in any realm.
Sometimes a lack of physical comfort may be
required in a situation where financial resources are limited or where the call
is to live among the very poor. In any case, religious life includes the choice
of a simple lifestyle in opposition to the culture of consumerism, which makes
false promises regarding what brings happiness.
The
sacrifices demanded by community...
...by love of our sisters, in the ups and downs of daily life. With some of these women we may have little in common except our love of God and our common mission. We can choose our friends, but not always the people with whom we live and work. Can we love not only the lovable, but also those who get on our nerves?
Lack of understanding on the part of
family and friends
Not everyone will understand your call
to religious life. Your family and friends may or may not support your decision
to become a sister.
What would be the sacrifices that would touch you most
deeply, either those from the list to the left or others that are not mentioned?
Write or talk to God about these.
V
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in [her] joy [she] goes and sells all that [she] has and buys that field."
Matthew 13:44
When you are ready, click below to reflect on the hundredfold:
