When life gets stormy

“When life gets stormy” is one of the themes in this weeks Vincentian reflection by Lynn L’Heureux. These days we seem to be at a turning point regarding Syria. Pope Francis reminds us  “The search for peace is long and demands patience and perseverance! Let us keep praying for this!”

When Life Gets Stormy – Did You Hear the Call? – Does Zeal Possess You? – Taste God’s Love.

Dear Vincentian Family: As you know our Tuesday’s are days of prayer and fast. I implore you to use this Tuesday as a special day of fasting for Syria and for peace in general. We need peace in each other and in our world. Don’t stop praying and fasting. God answers our prayers. I have each of you by name in my Tuesday prayer and please join me in praying for peace everywhere, and especially the innocent victims of Syria. I ask for your prayers for a sweet little angel who is having trouble with her transplant, so I ask to lift Marisol and her family to God and place a healing touch on this sweet little girl.

When Life Gets Stormy, you can count on God. It’s easy to become discouraged when plans that we think that God endorses, goes wrong. We become frustrated. We have to recognize, that God is always in charge and life is going to get stormy. We must focus on our service, not our personal wishes. We serve Christ and we can count on God, if we turn it over. He will calm even the biggest storm. Saint Marguerite Borgeoys certainly believed when God closes a door, He will open a window. Marguerite wanted to be a cloistered nun, but was led to be foundress and educator and God was with her all the way.

In his homily at her canonization, Pope John Paul II said, “…in particular, she [Marguerite] contributed to building up that new country [Canada], realizing the determining role of women, and she diligently strove toward their formation in a deeply Christian spirit.” He noted that she watched over her students with affection and confidence “in order to prepare them to become wives and worthy mothers, Christians, cultured, hardworking, radiant mothers.” A great role model! She heard the call.

Did You Hear the Call? We are called and we must be open to the call. Each person has a duty to perform as Christians. We are disciples and we are called to love and serve Christ in those in need. We don’t have to make a name for ourselves, however we are called to love and serve in holiness. Actually holiness is just a higher elevation of love. We help each other to be holy. We need each other in our holiness journey, because sometimes we slip and others lift us. When we were baptised we became heirs to our heavenly family. With this sanctifying grace we are part of the family and we serve each other. We are sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus and in the end we will be in the same home as heirs of heaven. Keep listening and always answer the call.

Does Zeal Possess You? I think that our yearning to be like Christ brings with it the zeal to serve and do better. Zeal is a word we don’t often use, but each person in our Vincentian family possesses it and it really should possess us. We have a zeal and passion for our work. We want to make things better. We look at the prisoner, the homeless with eyes of love, passion and zeal to lift Jesus up in their suffering. We have the zeal to make things better. This is why “Systemic Change” is a perfect choice for us. We can serve and lift those we serve from their situation. I will admit, sometimes not overnight because we know it takes some people a long time to learn to fish. So we persevere with zeal and it is a great gift from God. God places the hungry before us and we say blessed are they. We see the Bread of Life in them and serve with the zeal that possesses us. And it is good.

Taste God’s Love. I love that phrase, it moves me. I yearn to feel the love and to freely and completely love God. The taste of God’s love is indescribable and satisfying, without calories. You know if you can wait to tell God of your love, it is all He needs and He already knows. Sometimes when I pray I foolishly say, “Dear Lord, do you know how much I love You, and how wonderful the taste of that love is?” God answers simply, “Yes”. How comforting is this taste of love. We are humble in the love of God, we only long to taste His love and serve in charity and humility. Savour the taste.

As the Son was sent by the Father, so He too sent the Apostles, saying: “Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days even to the consummation of the world”. LUMEN GENTIUM, para.17

I’ve read so many things this week on prayer for peace and Syria on www.famvin.org and I also gathered some valuable information on our youth group. I am convinced it is one of the top places for us. Don’t be afraid. Have a look.

Blessings,

Lynn

Lynn  L’Heureux is Special needs co-coordinator & Advisor of the Society of St Vincent de Paul Calgary Alberta Canada

Subscribe to her weekly newsletter  Vincentian Day of Prayer and Fast (English and Spanish) by sending an email to calgaryssvpadm@gmail.com