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November2009.Pdf 2 Christ is our Hope / November 2009 / Dioceseofjoliet.org 3 ivir significa ser deseado y amado por Dios, momento tras momento” (Jubileo de la Vida Consagrada, Apéndice IA). De todas las maneras en que uno puede definir la vida humana, esta Discerning breve pero asombrosa declaración lo dice todo. Me pregunto qué clase de definición cada uno de nosotros escribiría si se nos pidiera que a vocation definiéramos“V vivir. Tengo la sospecha que muchos de nosotros empezaríamos con algo así como: “Vivir significa que yo…” Nuestras definiciones continuarían con una lista de lo queyo Do you have a petition for Bishop Sartain’s prayer list? You may send it to him at: realizaría, lograría, sentiría, pensaría, sabría, haría. Bishop Sartain’s Prayer List, Diocese of Joliet; 425 Summit St., Joliet, IL 60435-7193. Pero la verdadera definición mismo se pierde o se arruina?” (Lucas sostiene. ¿Soy muy débil? Sí, pero o live means to be desired and loved by God, moment after moment” no empieza con nada que yo me 9, 24-25). Dios es fuerte. ¿Extrañaré mi antigua (Jubilee of the Consecrated Life, Appendix IA). haya propuesto como una meta Un obstáculo a la seria vida? Tal vez, pero ganaré algo más. Of all the ways one might define human life, that brief and startling para mí mismo. Sino que empieza consideración de una vocación ¿Abandonaré lo que he construido? statement says everything. I wonder what kind of definition each of us reconociendo que la única razón por religiosa es que comenzamos No, se lo daré a Dios. ¿Perderé a would write were we asked to define to live. I have a suspicion that la que estoy vivo es que soy “deseado preguntando: “¿Debo yo hacer mi familia? No, estaré más cerca y amado por Dios.” Al desearme y esto?” En otras palabras, nosotros de ellos, y Dios extenderá aún más many“T of us would begin, “To live means that I …” Our definitions would continue with a list amarme, Dios me dio el ser y me abordamos una vocación como mi familia. ¿Limitaré mis futuras of things that I would accomplish, achieve, feel, think, know, do. sostiene. Yo no soy ni el origen ni lo haríamos con un cambio de opciones? Indudablemente que la meta de mi propia vida. Yo soy profesión, cuando, en efecto, tiene sí, pero en entregarme a Dios, lo But, the true definition does not begin One obstacle to serious consideration No, I will give it to God. Will I lose my quien es deseado y amado por Dios, mucho más que ver con nuestra ganaré todo. with anything that I set as a goal for of a religious vocation is that we begin family? No, I will grow even closer to momento a momento, y por eso estoy inclinación a saltar a los brazos de Por favor únanse a mí en oración myself. Instead it begins with recogniz- by asking, “Should I do this?” In other them, and God will even expand my vivo. ¡Mi existencia es evidencia de Dios. Tiene que ver con rendirnos por aquellos que en nuestra diócesis the Bishop ing that the only reason I am alive is words, we approach a vocation as we family. Will I limit my future choices? que Dios existe! nosotros a la verdad – aunque no están considerando la vocación al that I am “desired and loved by God.” would a career change, when, in fact, it Most definitely, yes, but, in giving my- Para la mayoría de nosotros, lo comprendamos completamente sacerdocio o a la vida religiosa (¡y By desiring and loving me, God brought has much more to do with our willing- self to God, I will gain everything. tomando la definición seriamente – que sin importar lo que ya haya por los que no están considerando me into being and sustains me. I am ness to leap into God’s arms. It has to Please join me in prayer for those significaría realizado, la una vocación, pero lo deberían estar From From neither the source do with surren- in our diocese who are considering a permitir que Es la irónica revo- razón por la que haciendo!). Oren para que ellos nor the goal of It is the revolu- dering ourselves vocation to the priesthood or religious una revolución lución del Evan- estoy viviendo es puedan revivir el deseo y amor de my own life. I am tionary irony of to the truth – life (and for those who are not consid- suceda en que soy deseado Dios por ellos, para que ellos den su one who is desired even though we ering a vocation but should be!). Pray nuestros gelio, que, en olvidarme y amado por yo a Dios por su bien y el nuestro. and loved by God, the Gospel that, in forget- do not fully un- they will come alive in God’s desire and corazones. Si la de mí mismo, me encuen- Dios. Oren para que ellos tengan el valor moment after ting myself, I find myself derstand it – that love for them, that they will give their I razón por la que tro; que, en rendirme a “¿Qué es de exponer sus vidas por lo que moment, and, – that, in surrendering no matter what to God for his sake and ours. Pray they estoy vivo es lo que Dios significa vivir. Oren para que ellos therefore, I am I have already will have the courage to stake their lives porque soy un Dios como su instrumen- me pide que oigan su llamada y contesten: “¡Sí!” alive. My existence myself to God as his in- accomplished, on what it means to live. Pray they will deseo de Dios, el to, me da más vida.” haga?” Esta Quisiera hacer una petición a todos is evidence that strument, I come alive.” the reason I am hear his call and answer, “Yes!” amado de Dios, es la pregunta los que leen esta columna – laicos, God exists! living is that I am I would like to make a request of un pensamiento de Dios, el objeto del adecuada para reflexionar así mismo religiosos, y clero. Piensen en por lo For most of us, taking that definition desired and loved by God. everyone who reads this column – lay, favor de Dios; entonces, nutriendo cuando se contempla una vocación. menos un hombre o una mujer joven seriously means letting a revolution “What does God call me to do?” That religious, and clergy. Think of at least una relación con Dios me lleva aún Discernir una vocación significa quien ustedes crean que podría ser happen in our hearts. If the reason I am is the proper question to ask one- one young man or woman you believe más a la vida. Haciéndome el centro, permitirme ser definido por el deseo un buen sacerdote o religiosa. Oren alive is that I am a desire of God, the self when contemplating a vocation. would be a good priest or religious. el punto de todo, solo me rebaja. y amor de Dios por mí, para querer por las intenciones de esa persona, beloved of God, a thought of God, an Discerning a vocation means allowing Pray for that person’s intentions, cut Es la irónica revolución del convertirme en la imagen del amor y recorten esta columna de la revista y object of God’s favor, then nourishing a myself to be defined by God’s desire this column out of the magazine Evangelio, que, en olvidarme de el deseo de Dios por todos. En esta envíensela a él o ella con sus palabras relationship with God brings me even and love for me, to want to become an and mail it to him or her with your mí mismo, me encuentro; que, época de “estar realizado,” esa no es personales de ánimo. Finalmente, more to life. Making myself the center, image of God’s love and desire for ev- personal words of encouragement. en rendirme a Dios como su una tarea fácil, pero es precisamente envíen su nombre, domicilio y edad a the point of it all, only lessons me. eryone. In this age of “self-fulfillment,” Finally, send his or her name, address instrumento, me da más vida. Esa lo que la Iglesia – el mundo – mí o al Padre Burke Masters, director It is the revolutionary irony of the that is no easy task, but it is precisely and age to me or to Father Burke lógica al revés es enfatizada por necesitan. de las vocaciones, St. Charles Gospel that, in forgetting myself, I find what the church – the world – needs. Masters, director of vocations, St. los evangelios como la llave a la Discernir una vocación quiere decir Borromeo Pastoral Center, 402 S. myself – that, in surrendering myself Discerning a vocation means putting Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center, 402 enseñanza de Jesús: “Quien quiera ponerme a mí mismo a la disposición Independence Blvd., Romeoville, IL to God as his instrument, I come alive. myself at God’s disposal, so that, when S. Independence Blvd., Romeoville, IL, salvar su vida, la perderá; pero quien de Dios, para que cuando Él me 60446. That upside-down logic is emphasized he calls, I will not respond, “I have 60446. pierda su vida por mí, ése la salvará. llame, yo no responda: “Tengo algo Parte de nuestra vocación es by the Gospels as a key to Jesus’ teach- something better to do.” Part of our vocation is to extend the Pues, ¿de qué le sirve al hombre mejor qué hacer.” extender el llamado de Dios. ing: “For whoever wishes to save his life Am I afraid of falling? God will catch call of God.
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