The newness of God
On the day of Pentecost, the disciples and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, had a unique experience. The Holy Spirit manifests himself in precise and concrete signs, the violent wind, the tongues of fire. He brings newness, everyone will be able to hear the Wonders of God in their own language.
Pope Francis invites us to welcome this newness as a desire of God, to always renew ourselves in his love and trust in Him.
“Newness always makes us a bit fearful, because we feel more secure if we have everything under control, if we are the ones who build, programme and plan our lives in accordance with our own ideas, our own comfort, our own preferences.
And this also happens with God. Often, we follow him, we welcome him, but up to a point. It is hard to abandon ourselves to Him with complete trust, allowing the Holy Spirit to be the soul and guide of our lives in our every decision.
We fear that God may force us to strike out on new paths and leave behind our all too narrow and selfish horizons in order to become open to his own. Yet throughout the history of salvation, whenever God reveals himself, he brings newness. God always brings newness. He demands our complete trust.
Abram leaves his land with only a promise in hand. Moses stands up to the might of Pharaoh and leads his People to freedom. The Apostles, huddled fearfully in the Upper Room, go forth with courage to proclaim the Gospel. The newness which God brings into our life is something that actually brings fulfilment, that gives true joy, true serenity, because God loves us and desires only our good”.
By the grace of the Holy Spirit, Eugénie was able to welcome the newness of God in her life, accepting this unprecedented project of starting a new Congregation solely for the far away Mission.
“One thing seems clear to me: Jesus asked for a new Work! Starting a venture like that! Yes, I had been thinking of the Missions, indeed, but my wish until then had been to join an existing Congregation as a nun! Before, that is to say before that call of Jesus, I had not thought of a foundation and even less of taking care of it directly. However what I never hesitated was to do His most Holy Will”. Cf. My Vocation, Spiritan Collection n°3, page 53.
Lord, following the example of the Apostles and Sister Eugénie Caps, grant us the grace to open ourselves to your newness, to welcome your life plan for each one of us, in all trust and love.