What a tremendous grace to renew my vows for the
first time! It was perfectly fitting that it was on the Feast of Divine Mercy.
To be a bride of Christ is a supreme gift of divine mercy. God’s love is
entirely gratuitous. Like the “spring of
water welling up to eternal life,” He pours His love into our hearts, and
draws us to Himself. He has conquered the grave that we may have life and have
it abundantly. As I reflect on these
past eight months since I first professed my vows, I am struck with the depth
of God’s generosity. God is supreme, and has no need of us; still He chooses us. God is all powerful, and
still he uses us. He thirsts for us,
longing to make us new each day. For
in allowing ourselves to be made new, we “renew
the face of the earth.” Fr. Tim Christy, who gave two conferences on the
recollection day before renewal, said: “In order to inspire others to
conversion, we must first become acquainted with it ourselves.” Renewal is
ultimately a call to conversion; to again cast off the old man and put on
Christ. One is invited to look at where they have been, and where they wish to
go. Renewal is defined as “the state of being made new, fresh, or strong
again.” It is through our profession of the evangelical counsels that we are
given the grace to persevere. In laying down our lives, and placing ourselves “at the disposal of this religious
congregation,” we are strengthened. In recognizing our weakness, God’s
power is made perfect in us. As I said our vow formula, I misspoke one line,
repeated it correctly, and continued on. When I returned to my pew, it dawned
on me that I am not able to live my vows solely on my own strength; therefore why
should I be able to say them of my own ability. It is a
precious reminder that all is gift.
God is the giver of all good things. He is faithful, and He will lead us.
Trusting in Him alone, we WILL be
made new. We ARE being made new. In
radiant joy let us announce with our lives, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my
spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness
of his servant. […] [F]or the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy
is his name. His mercy is for those
who fear him from generation to generation.”
-Sister M. Gemma, FSGM
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