Bro. Pelix Fernando, C.Ss.R. | Rigion of Colombo, Sri Lanka
In 2022, during my mission immersion, I spent four months with tea plantation workers before being asked by the local parish priest to move to another community on a hill. While excited about possible surprises, I was disappointed that the authority didn't hear my previous community's intentions and opinions. Despite this, I listened to my inner being and let the Holy Spirit work. To make a story short, to my surprise, I received the signal to organize the inauguration of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in that small community in November of the same year.
Dear brothers, we come together as individuals called to a particular calling: serving as spiritual leaders. Hence, looking back, though, I can see that this journey of mine and ours—has not always been smooth. We are surrounded by the noise, the distractions of everyday existence, and even the whispers of doubt within ourselves.
However, this morning's reading from the Book of Jeremiah reminds us what can happen if we ignore the voice of God inside us. Jeremiah describes how the people disregarded God's instructions in favor of their wishes. In the same way, Jesus warns of the dangers of a divided heart.
He also emphasizes in the Gospel how crucial it is to decide to follow him. It is your responsibility and my responsibility to consciously seek out God's voice. More than merely going through the motions during the formation journey is required. It is up to me to take an active role in allowing the Spirit to work and forming us into the servant leaders we were meant to be.
I believe that having a conscious understanding of our faith will enable us to have the inner conviction of having a sense of Christ within us. We ask our God, during this Lent, to grant us the grace to listen attentively, discern his will with clarity, and surrender our hearts to his service.
May the Lord bless and guide us in every step of our journey. Amen
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