Bearers of Christ

“A plan was revealed to Mary, and immediately, she went out to serve.” This is not quoted in the Bible, but I want to translate it in this way. She moved, she was feeling something mysterious and miraculous. She did not waste time. She became a missionary herself. She left immediately!

What a beautiful image! I have to do the same. We missionaries have to do the same- ready to move because something mysterious and miraculous is happening among our brothers and sisters. Zambia, Malawi and other mission areas in the world, we have to move, be ready when our service is needed.

The encounter of the two women is always an icon for me. Mary, the young girl, Elizabeth, old and barren, called to become mothers, called to be instruments in the plan of salvation. Mary was young and vulnerable, Elizabeth was old and vulnerable, yet in their vulnerabilities, the Lord called them to become His instruments.

There was also the encounter of Jesus and John. In Mary’s greetings, something was provoked inside. John leapt for joy! Elizabeth recognized the role of Mary: “Why should I be honored by the visit of the mother of my Lord?”

We are honored! Mary facilitated of the presence of the Lord. She facilitated our journey to become followers of Jesus, her Son. She facilitated that Christ be born and be closer to people.

This is my vocation too- To bring Christ, to preach Christ and His works, to administer the Sacraments so that people will receive Christ. In our work of facilitation, we make people touch Christ. We become bearers of Jesus Christ. “It is no longer I, but Christ lives in me."

We need that strong faith in the Son of Mary, the Son of God. I owe Jesus my life because of His choice for me. I have His heart, He has mine. I become a contagious presence of Christ to people in my speech. I need that faith: “Be filled with everything that is true, admirable and good.”

Lady of the Whole World

When I was a first year novice, December 31, 1988, waiting for New Year, I sat silently in front of the Belen reflecting the Nativity. While looking deeply the image of the Lady and the Infant Jesus, I had a dialogue in my heart and a prayer was formed. I wrote it in the middle of the night, before our Midnight Mass. This prayer I want to share with you as my Christmas message.

PRAYER TO THE LADY OF THE WHOLE WORLD
Mary, my Mother of Faith
I am so amazed by your faith in me
You caught me by surprise because of your generosity
Why are you giving your Son to someone?
Why to me? My heart is so wicked and wretched.
I don't feel worthy for such a favour
Many times I feel so little because of this responsibility

Mother, you can see only trash in my heart
Once you told me to carve a channel in my heart
That I may let Jesus pass through it
I ask your strength, help me to clean my heart.

And now you have blessed me Mother
You have cleansed my soul
How I wish I would no longer be thinking of sin
That day after day, I would be worthy to embrace Jesus
And press Him into my heart.

The joy that I am feeling Mother is unsurpassable
Help me to be the brother that you want me to be,
That Jesus may grow in my care.
Help me to make Him one with me
To wrap me with His mystery
So that I would also share Him into the hearts of people.

Mother of the Whole World
Thanks for the intimacy that I have experienced with Jesus
Help me to be generous
Feeding the sweetness of the Child for the hungry.
Give me the grace to see clearly excellent practice
Of patience and humility.

You know Mother how small my heart is
So tiny even to embrace a person.
Thank you for the rooms of love, understanding,
Service, humility and peace
I can put Jesus now at any corners of my heart
Through people I meet along the way.

I am so homesick to see you dear Mother
But time has not come yet
For you want me to receive images of the Infant Jesus in my apostolate
Prepare me for that great day
Where I would be in intimacy with you.

In times of persecution
Lend me your actions…
"To keep all things in my heart
And to accept Jesus with all my love." Amen.

Annunciation

Rejoice! You enjoy God’s favor! (Luke 1:26-38)

Just reflecting at this line, it carries already a deep meaning in my life. I look at myself, in my missionary vocation, my soul is favored by God! I am enjoying God’s favor! Christ is with me, as it was also announced to Mary by the Angel Gabriel.

This thought should disturb us, children of God. Mary was disturbed, she was a bit confused. The angel came as a man, and for their tradition, for a man to come and chat with a woman was a taboo. Probably, she had that idea too.

Mary was disturbed because she did not know what to say. But the angel comforted her. “Do not be afraid…” We should not be afraid too. We should be confident of what the Lord can do in our lives. We are favored by Him. Our vocation is beyond natural! It is supernatural! The Holy Spirit is in our missionary journey.

Mary was strengthened when she heard about what happened to Elizabeth. A miracle is happening in her cousin’s life. She had to rush to see her. At the same time, a miracle is happening not only to our lives, but also to our peoples’ lives.

With Mary and Elizabeth, there was supernatural intervention of God; a young woman will conceive without a man in her life, she will become the Mother of the Lord. An old woman Elizabeth, barren and unable to bear a child is six-month pregnant. These are beyond human understanding. Only God knows.

A miracle is also happening in our lives, we said ‘yes’ and we are sent for the missions, beyond human understanding, but we do things among normal lives of people in the villages.

The miraculous events in our lives should lead us to humility. They all happened according to what Mary has said: “Let it be done to me according to your word