Being One with God
This week, Jesus prays that we may all be one in Him. Father, may they be one in us (Jn 17:21)
What does it mean to be one in Him?
Fr. Dom explained that it is our mission to unite and not divide. He then invited Sr. Maria who had studied with him in the Philippines to share her vocation story and the meaning of this week’s Gospel.
Sr. Maria, explained that being one with God is “happiness forever where all our desires are satiated”. She entered the religious life because “God has called me in a more special and radical way”. At the age of 23 after completing her studies in Law in London, she entered the convent. She is into her 7th year of religious life and has travelled much for her missionary work to Europe and Asia.
She said many “see how much a person loses when you follow God but when you have God what are all these?” In her own life, she knows she has gained so much more in union with God. “Because I do not possess anything I have travelled to many places and have a community that provides for me. God provides for me through them. You gain more by generously offering yourself to God. God is good, He will not ask for something that will cause harm. “
She explains that union with God is something real and not abstract. We come into union with God through Baptism and we can continue living in union with Him if we conform our will and love to God’s will and love. This means “we want what God wants and love what God loves”.
She gave a simple example of when a boy who does not like to study loves a girl who loves to study, he will also study because he loves the girl. Similarly, the more we love God, we would love what he loves. Therefore, we need to find out more about God- “what he loves, and what he wants for us. When you love somebody, you want to be with them and do things with them.“
Sr. Maria added that Christ seeking an intimate relationship with us and he is aware that it is difficult for us without his physical presence. However, Jesus is truly present during mass and in the Eucharist. Thus if ever we want to be in union with him, all we have to do is come to receive him in the Eucharist.
She gave examples of the following prayers to be in union with God in our daily life:
Lord, I want to consecrate this day to you
In difficult times, Lord I offer this to you
Lord accompany me on this
Blessed mother, help me with my children
Thus, her vocation story is nothing more than a response to God who was calling her. “Respond to him generously,” she said because “God always wants what is good for you”.