4B 2015 CONSECRATED LIFE BOYNES
Pope Francis has certainly done a lot of things that have grabbed our attention since his election almost two years ago. But one thing that's not getting a lot of attention is the Year for Consecrated Life, which began last fall. It's actually more than a year - it began two months ago with the beginning of Advent and it will end next year on February 2, which is the annual World Day for Consecrated Life. February 2 of this year is (tomorrow/Monday), so that's why I'm talking about it this weekend.
So what is "consecrated life"? Actually, the second reading today is a great starting point: Paul says in 1 Corinthians, "An unmarried man is anxious about things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman...is anxious about the things of the Lord...A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband."
Now I think Paul is exaggerating to make a point, like Jesus often does in his parables. Married people are also concerned about things of the Lord. They serve the Lord by serving their spouse and children. In fact, marriage is such an important vocation that next Sunday, February 8, is World Marriage Sunday in the Church, and the following week is National Marriage Week. The Michigan Catholic Conference is currently celebrating the Year for Marriage. So we'll focus more on marriage next weekend.
But Paul makes a valid point: unmarried people do have more freedom to serve the Lord in other ways. That's what "consecrated life" is about - people who choose to remain single in order to serve the Lord in ways that married people can't.
The most common form of consecrated life is known as "religious life": religious sisters and nuns, brothers and monks and some priests. They take public vows as part of a religious order, like the Franciscans or Jesuits or Dominicans. Pope Francis is one of them. He entered the priesthood as a Jesuit (a member of the Society of Jesus). Maybe that's why he gave us this Year for Consecrated Life.
We also have men and women who take private vows with their local bishop, choosing to live a life of chastity, simplicity and prayer as a way of dedicating themselves to the work of the Gospel. This can include those who were never married or those who are no longer married.
Those who enter religious life take public vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience - these are also known as the evangelical counsels. Now all of us are called to live these virtues to some degree. Poverty of spirit gives us that freedom of not depending on material things for our happiness. Chastity means using our bodies in a way that is faithful to our state in life, whether married or single. Obedience means following God's truth, which is the only real source of freedom.
All disciples of Christ are called to live these virtues. Those in consecrated life are committing to do it in a more visible way.
St. Paul talks about married people being "divided" when it comes to serving their spouse or serving the Lord. As I said, married people do serve the Lord in serving each other, but that does leave less time and energy for other things. Married pastors from other churches often struggle with that...some have told me personally about their struggle. When they spend a lot of time at church, they feel like they're neglecting their family. When they spend a lot of time with family, they feel like they're neglecting their church. Those of us who are unmarried don't have that dilemma in our ministry.
Some of us are called to live a single life for the sake of the Gospel. It's not just a sacrifice. It's not just a practical thing so that you might have more free time. It's meant to be a sign that this life is not everything. In Matthew's Gospel (19:11-12) Jesus says, "Not everyone can accept this, but only those to whom it has been granted. Some are incapable of marriage from birth....(but) some, because they have renounced marriage for the sake of the kingdom. Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."
So it's not just a practical choice, but a gift to be received. That doesn't make it easy, but neither is marriage! Both rely on God's grace.
Most men and women in religious life will tell you that the vow of obedience is the bigger challenge in the long run. It means you don't choose where you will live or how you will serve. You follow the will of your superior, whether the bishop of a diocese or the superior in your religious community. Again, that's a sign of the kingdom. It's a sign to the world that we don't have to be in control in order to be happy. There's great freedom in that.
Many of us have been impacted directly by someone in consecrated life. Maybe you were taught by a religious sister or brother, or priest. Maybe you saw the example of Mother Theresa and were inspired to help the poorest of our brothers and sisters. Maybe you've been inspired by Pope Francis and his emphasis on God's mercy and compassion.
Most of us have been impacted in ways we don't even realize. Catholic religious orders were crucial in the development of our great hospital systems in this country, and are still the largest provider of health care in the United States. And we're all being prayed for daily by the Carmelite nuns in Traverse City. They hold our entire diocese in prayer each day.
So let's pray for these men and women who dedicate their lives to the Lord in such a radical way, and ask the Lord to bless them.
We certainly have been blessed by their ministry, their example, and their prayers.