In the spirit of the Resurrection, we are happy to share these reflections on Easter Time, prepared by the Areas and the Congregational Mission, together with the Poor Sisters of St. Francis.
While we live the First Call of our General Chapter:
“We will strengthen our Gospel call to be prophets of dialogue
and healing within the Church and the world”.
We desire to deepen our knowledge of the cultural richness that challenges us to be Apostles of the Resurrection where we live, in harmony with Franciscan spirituality and the healing charism of Frances Schervier.
These Easter reflections, by sustaining us in our personal and communal prayers from Easter Day until Pentecost, will be able to enrich us with charismatic and intercultural perspectives that mirror the spirituality and life of our Congregation in the various continents, while inviting us to be Apostles of the Resurrection in our time.
We each live the story of the Resurrected Jesus in our lives – and the life of the congregation – as well, but again, because of our different experiences in life and in our relationship with Jesus, we would tell the story differently...
“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.” Pentecost: fire, passion...
“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one… As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
“This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit…” First and foremost, loving us is God’s initiative – that he loved us first, therefore, we ought to...
“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me... My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
“I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep, and they know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I lay down my life for my sheep ... The Father loves me because I lay down my life in order to take it up again, No one takes it from me...
“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord”.
“You know how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil… We are witnesses to all that he did.”
