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A few years ago I learned that in Jesus’ Jewish cultural and religious
heritage, the same scripture passage refers to both prayer and obedience.
The specific text is in Isaiah’s third prophet-servant song. “Morning after
morning [God] opens my ear that I may hear” This discovery made a profound impact on me. In new ways I began to realize that both prayer and obedience depend on our listening to God. It is in prayerful listening that we learn God’s will for us. This realization of the significance of prayerful listening prompted me to reflect on our BVM Constitution sections on Prayer and on Obedience. Both introductory statements emphasize our special union with Jesus. Our prayer life is sharing in the prayer life of Jesus in which we are called to an ever deeper realization of his active presence in our lives. (#22)
Through religious obedience we freely choose to express our union with Jesus in his obedience to his Father; thus we are united in a particular way to the Church and her mission. (#50) As I ponder these two introductory statements on prayer and obedience, I realize how “Jesus-centered” our BVM life is meant to be. Also I have grown in ever-greater appreciation of the introductory statement in our section on Mission and Ministry. As Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary we are called to participate in the mission of Jesus. Our choice of ministry is in keeping with our BVM Mission: being freed and helping others enjoy freedom in God’s steadfast love. (#10)
Being true to our BVM way of life really calls for tremendous faith in the ongoing presence of our Risen Jesus who continually gifts us with his Holy Spirit. Through the continual promptings of God’s own Spirit of Love, we are energized to see and to respond to more and more situations that need the special touch of God’s compassionate love. As I reflect on my 60 years of BVM life, I see ever more clearly and gratefully how God moved me into a variety of situations calling out for compassionate understanding love. Although the situations were quite different, the basic need was really the same. From teaching in an inner city elementary school, to high school and college teaching and administration, to involvements with farm workers and with death row prisoners, the various and sundry needs cried out for the same basic response—a genuine expression of compassionate, caring love. Often my ministry involvements were in the day-to-day teaching a variety of adult students from all over the world. The challenges were continual and greatly varied. Especially in Hispanic ministry, the many challenges included the language and cultural differences. But no matter where God’s Spirit led me, the same basic need for discerning prayer persisted. How beautiful to grow in the realization that whatever we do even for the least of one of his brothers and sisters, we do to Jesus (Mt. 25:40). Perhaps even more amazing is Jesus’ promise that in doing whatever ministry to which God calls us, we truly share his own life as Sisters in God’s family. “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is brother and sister and mother to me” (Mt. 12:50). Perhaps one of Mary Frances Clarke’s wise and simple directives expresses the heart of our vow of obedience better than any extended commentary on this vow. It is a brief and clear directive obviously coming from her lifelong witness of obedience to God’s will as she prayerfully discerned what God wanted her and her Sisters to do. It is a directive that could come only from her prayerful heart. Through the years in various ways Mary Frances Clarke continues to encourage her Sister to do the most loving thing. What more need be said! About the author: Carol Frances Jegen, BVM is retired at Wright Hall, Chicago. Return
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Obedience: