by Sister Angela   

February 22, 2024

“…lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Eph 4:1)  This first week of Lent is a good time to reflect that God has called us to this place, to this community of like-minded women at this particular time in history.  In her Ash Wednesday reflection, Sister Mary Elizabeth reminded us that we are here because we responded to God’s call.  St. Paul in this reading for tonight from Ephesians is reminding the early Church community that they have been called by God.  Paul proceeds to explain the qualities needed to fully respond to God’s call.  First of all, be humble.  Sister Laura Swan, OSB, in her book, Engaging Benedict:  What the Rule Can Teach Us Today says, “Humility is about being real, and thus deeply aware of the Wholly Otherness of God.  It is a journey from that public persona that we have built up in our early adult years toward the true self made in the image and likeness of Christ.”

This self- knowledge then can lead to gentleness and patience, two qualities for accepting others and realizing they are also loved by God.  The New Testament repeatedly mentions God’s gentleness and patience with sinners and with his apostles.

The fourth great quality mentioned is love or agape—that quality of mind and heart that compels us to seek only the highest good for another person.

Paul sees these four qualities being required of all Christians to achieve peace—that oneness which is necessary to preserve the Church as the body of Christ.

Our calling is to develop these qualities to manifest to the world that “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling” (Eph 4:4)

God is always gifting us so that we may share as did the ministers in the early Church—the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in building up the body of Christ through service to all God’s people.

Let us continue this Lenten journey aware each day of God’s call and God’s unconditional love of each of us, of all our brothers and sisters in our Church and in the whole world.  Perhaps the use of our cell phone can be a reminder to ask for the gifts of humility, gentleness, patience, and love.  “…lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called.” (Eph 4:1)