RECOLLECTION FOR THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS – 7
General Theme of the Meditations for the Jubilee Year “Alive to the Spirit of Fr. Claret: Remember, Rejoice, and Rejuvenate”

General Objective for the Monthly Recollections
“Remembering the blessings of the Lord for the fifty Years, being grateful for the growth achieved through pioneers and contribution of all the members, we rejoice in the Claretian vocation and move forward with strength and renewed vigour to face the emerging frontiers after the example of Claret.”

Particular Theme for the month of January 2020 Nothing Daunts Us – From Shades to Light

Introduction:
We have been blessed with this New Year 2020. Surely the past year was eventful in its own way…we had many reasons to be grateful and many causes to regret. However, the year is far gone and we have the fresh opportunity to be what we want to be…Witnesses and Messengers of the Joy of the Gospel.
This month we concentrate on leaving behind all that hinders our growth and move forward with new enthusiasm as joyful missionaries…From Shades to Light.
We have just Celebrated Christmas which reminds us: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned. God is our reason and He is our Light.
Father Claret is our inspiration who faced many a shades in his life but was never weighed down by them; so he was able to say, nothing daunts a Son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
Readings:
Mathew 10: 16-20: 16 See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19 When they hand you over,
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do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Address of the Holy Father Pope Francis to XXV General Chapter: To “give thanks for our past” is to give thanks to God for the testimony of many of our brothers who, sustained by their faith, lived their vocation with a profound joy – some of them even up to the point of martyrdom. This also calls us to recognize the merciful hand of God who, regardless of our weaknesses and inconsistencies, continues to work marvels in the midst of the people of God.
“Living the present with passion” is fundamental to the missionary project in the Spirit of St. Anthony Mary Claret, who placed as his model in his Coat of Arms Caritas Christi urget nos (“the Love of Christ Impels Us). To love as Jesus loved should challenge each of our pastoral options.
“Embracing the future with hope” means not to allow yourselves to be dragged down by discouragement. Do not be afraid. It is the Lord who sends you. Always place your eyes on those who await the proclamation, and those who need your witness in order to feel the merciful presence of God in their lives.
Reflections:
1. The Church very often remind us “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church”. This is not to highlight the sufferings and negativity, rather to encourage us that our faithfulness in times of trials and difficulties will not go in vain. The Church stands witness to this.
2. Jesus our Lord and Master has taught us that the way to the Kingdom is narrow and many do not dare to travel it. Jesus himself chose the path full of challenges and surprises; because that was the correct path.
3. For Father Claret preaching the Word of God and saving souls was important, come what may. In imitation of the Master and the Apostles he was not afraid by the calumnies and the persecutions that he faced. He braved them all and even desired to be a martyr for the sake of Christ. (Aut. 227, 465-467)
4. The Paschal Mystery is basically the process of dying and rising, death and new life. We see this all around us and in our own lives. Our life experience teaches us that many a good leaders have emerged from very difficult and challenging circumstances.
During the initial years, our congregation was subjected to suppression, expulsions, exile and martyrdom but our pioneers were firm in their faith and commitment. Their zeal for evangelization and salvation of souls has spread to different continents.
5. Today vocation to religious and priestly life is faced with challenges on various fronts and we as Indian Claretians are no exception to this. At the same time we have inherited a great legacy of braving the toughest storms. It will only need our willingness to overcome the setbacks of spiritual lethargy, lukewarmness of community life, growing individualism and so
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on. When we set our sight on the goal to be achieved, even the toughest path will not stop us but only strengthen our resolve.
Let us remember then the words from Vita Consecrata (110): “Not only do you have a glorious history to recall and tell, but also a great history to build! Set your eyes on the future toward which the Spirit impels you, so that he may keep doing great things with you”.
For Personal Reflection:
Do I have an aim to be accomplished?
What challenges do I face in my religious and priestly vocation?
How do I find encouragement for my life in the example of Christ and Father Claret?
When my fellow Claretian is met with difficulties, do I help him overcome it?

Fr. Xavier Pereira CMF