By Sister Clare Bass

Recently I had the pleasure of hearing Sister Eva Marie Lumas, SSS speak about her dear friend Sister Thea Bowman, F.S.P.A. as part of the Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church pilgrimage in the Year of Mercy. Sister Eva shared all about Sister Thea, the type of person she was and how her spirituality flowed from her core.  At her core, Thea Bowman knew she was God’s beloved and a sister to Jesus and this made a difference in her life. Sister Thea was a person of integrity in the same manner of Jesus. Sister Eva shared Thea revered Jesus so much because she saw the integrity in his death by crucifixion. For Thea this act ultimately showed that he was a ‘person willing to die if that was the right thing to do.’ One of Thea’s guiding principles, was “you don’t do things because they’re comfortable, you do things because they are right.” In this same manner she also revered Saint Thomas More, who also died a person of integrity. Saint Thomas More was a just man who stayed true to what he believed was right, much to the dismay of those who held power. He never wavered from his conscious which enraged his foes so much, they eventually killed him.

Hearing all of this reminded me of my ethics course in college whereby we had to read two books: A Man for All Seasons, the play by Robert Bolt based on the story of Thomas More and The Special Prisoner, a novel by Jim Lehrer. The two books starkly contrast one another in style, but both pose moral and/or ethical dilemmas. In The Special Prisoner, two World War II veterans, one from the United States (U.S.) and one from Japan run into one another many years later. The U.S. man was at a camp at some point in the war and tortured by the Japanese man. The U.S. veteran went on to be a Methodist Bishop and all these years later is now confronted with an opportunity which poses the moral/ethical dilemma. (Spoiler alert) The man who professes to be a follower of Jesus as a Christian will not forgive the Japanese man and instead murders him. Conventional or societal wisdom will tell us that all Thomas More had to do was acknowledge a divorce, and a divorce is not that big of deal to die over. Conventional wisdom will also tell us that the U.S. veteran was getting even for the terror the other man caused him and so his action is justified. What difference does it make in our lives, for those of us who profess to believe in God and be a follower of Jesus? What’s the difference?

I know what I believe about God, Jesus, and the Spirit. I’m aware of what it means in my life, as well as my own shortcomings. Ultimately, I think each of us has to figure out our own answer to this question. I think it is found on our life journeys and is part of our journey. I know that our families, friends, and communities of faith which we call our own influence us and provide accountability on our paths. There is no one right or easy answer. Thinking and re-examining the answer to this question calls us and moves us forward as it is an ever-evolving process.

I believe that our vocational callings are intertwined with the answer to this question. Specifically, I think if you are discerning religious life the Charism and mission of each Congregation that you look at/talk to/research will be different. Each community will have their own sort of answer(s) to this question as they share what they are about with you. Try to be attentive to what is resonating in your heart as you listen to the past and present communal stories, communal prayers, and as people share their individual stories within community too. As you move along in your discernment one will emerge as a good fit for you. By saying “good fit for you” I mean there will eventually be a place where you feel you can be your best authentic self and where you feel at home. There is no timeline as to when this should happen, it will happen when you are ready.

As Sisters of St. Joseph we have a consensus statement which tells about who we are as a community.

The Consensus Statement of the Sisters of St. Joseph

Stimulated by the Holy Spirit of Love and receptive to God’s inspirations

The Sister of St. Joseph moves always towards profound love of God

And love of neighbor without distinction

From whom she does not separate herself and

For whom, in the following of Christ

She works in order to achieve unity

Of neighbor with neighbor

And neighbor with God

Directly in this apostolate and

Indirectly through works of charity

In humility- the Spirit of the Incarnate Word (Philippians 2:5-8)

In sincere charity- the manner of Saint Joseph whose name she bears

In an Ignatian-Salesian climate: that is with an orientation towards excellence

Tempered by gentleness, peace, joy.

One more thought before I sign off today, none of us are perfectly answering the question I posed earlier or are ‘doing life perfectly’ so to speak. I am and I like to think that all of us are trying our best. I will leave you with one more quote that I saw in a picture of Sister Thea, “Saints are sinners who kept on trying.”  Let’s all keep on trying! That can make all the difference in the world.

It has been a month of firsts and lasts. Perhaps the last person we would vote for has been selected as their party’s presidential nominee. Unknown athletes from all corners of the world have overcome personal and physical setbacks to dazzle the world with gold medal performances. These may provide us some modern day examples as we consider the divine answer to the gospel question today: who will be saved?

Isaiah tells us it is the unlikely and the outcast. In the first reading, we see a gathering of Olympic proportions: nations of every language are brought together to see God’s glory. Foreigners and fugitives not only see, they have an active role in proclaiming God’s universal salvation. It is an unlikely and expansive event, meant for all.

Alongside Isaiah’s image, we find Jesus’ response to the question, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” At first, it appears the answer is “yes,” as Jesus coaches those who are listening to “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” Herculean strength, it seems, will be needed to make it through. Even the Chosen People, who claim to have kept the master’s company and know of his teachings, will not be let in. But wanderers and exiles from the four corners of the globe will have a seat at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. How can this be? It’s not logical nor calculated. It is the surprising ways of the providence of God. This is “the narrow gate” – accepting the grace, the gift of God.

How do we prepare to receive this great surprise? Maybe our instruction is found in the second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. What is required is discipline. Any true athlete or honest politician knows this well. Discipline requires time and effort and the pain of endlessly dull repetitions, the forming of physical and mental habits which lead us with little thought to the desired outcome. Discipline strengthens, purifies, transforms. Discipline forms disciples who are recognized and admitted to the universal companionship of those who are seated at the Eucharistic table. Discipline, the writer of Hebrews tells us, brings “the peaceful fruit of righteousness,” of goodness and honesty. Discipline prepares us to accept the sudden, unexpected turns of life. And the accolades of the medalist’s podium.

Ponder

• How are life’s turns “disciplining” me now? What am I learning from my recent setbacks?

Do

• Watch the Olympics closing and celebrate the Olympians’ achievements and your own, in your life with God.

–Sister Mary Flick, CSJ