This weekend we had the joy of attending the first Mass of
Father Raymond Buehler. The most
beautiful thing about the Mass was not the music, nor the church, nor the
vestments, but rather the love for God and His people that Father Buehler
demonstrated throughout the Mass, especially in the offering of the Eucharistic
prayer.
In his closing remarks, Father Buehler included a special
thank you to the religious sisters that accompanied him with prayers and
support through his time at the seminary.
He recounted a visit he made with a fellow seminarian to the
convent. After the visit, his friend
made the observation, “I love the sisters.
They make me want to be a priest.”
I think we were all humbled by that compliment.
However, I am not surprised by it, because this is the
reality of the Mystical Body of Christ.
My “yes” to God through my vocational response is not just between “me
and God” as people so often like to believe.
My “yes” (and my “no’s”) affect others’ responses; and their responses
affect my own. As religious, we are
called to manifest the holiness of the Church for which Christ gave his life;
priests are called to make visible Christ, High Priest and Head of the Church,
especially in their ministry to preach, sanctify and govern. Families are the domestic Church, or the
Church “in miniature,” where children learn through the word and example of
their parents the love Christ has for the Church and the love we are to have
for each other. A strong family, a holy religious, or a zealous priest
strengthens those who are weak so that together, we will be drawn into
communion with the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. In other words, that we may form the Mystical
Body of Christ, the Church.
If you are not a religious, you might have the impression that
sisters are the ones giving and not on the receiving end. However, I cannot count the number of times
in my life when the example of a joyful priest in love with our Lord has
inspired me to look again at the beauty of my vocation; how a selfless mother
has encouraged me to stay faithful by promising her prayers for me; or how
children have reminded me of my vocation as a spiritual mother. And these are the moments I am aware of! I
greatly look forward to the day when all that is hidden is revealed. God is so humble to allow us to participate
in his work of salvation!
If that’s the reality, then the invitation is clear: say
“yes” to God, today and every day. In
doing this, you will not only be choosing what is good for you, but touching
the lives of countless others!
Thank you, Father Buehler, for your “yes” to Our Lord!
- Sister M. Mediatrix, FSGM
- Sister M. Mediatrix, FSGM
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