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In
Search of the Spirit
A
monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office
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December
2001
My
dear inquirers into Glenmary,
I
had a family tragedy on November 25.
On this day my 19-year-old nephew died in a one-car
accident. Since
then, I have been with my family and certain details and
correspondence has been under par.
Austine
Duru, one of three men from Nigeria who are in their last
phase of their discernment with Glenmary, is helping me
out. He has
provided the monthly reflection below.
I
hope each of you has a Blessed Advent Season, and I hope
I can be helpful in your personal search for God’s
Spirit in our life.
Peace,
Father
Steve Pawelk
An
African Experience, an African Challenge
By
Augustine O. Duru
“Go
make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28:19).
The call to discipleship is a transforming experience.
The strength of this injunction of Christ in the Gospels,
however, is yet to be felt by a great number of people
from every race, nation, creed or color.
Initially,
this injunction, to me, would have meant no more than
one of those invitations to service scattered all over
the scriptures, especially in the New Testament. But,
surprisingly, this injunction took on a new, significant
and deeper meaning for me not long ago.
As
part of my orientation program towards joining the Glenmary
Home Missioners, I had the opportunity to visit some of
the rural Glenmary missions in the South. While visiting
the mission in Winfield, Alabama, I saw inscribed on one
of the stained glass windows this historic invitation
to mission: ‘Go make disciples of all nations…’
Looking at this scriptural verse, I recalled that I am
thousands of miles away from my home in Africa. I came
to realize, almost impulsively, the vast territories waiting
patiently to be evangelized and the urgent need to incorporate
more willing hands in this work of evangelization. My
contact with the people of the U.S. home mission territories,
drawn from diverse shades of cultural and historical backgrounds,
made me realize their deep-rooted faith in God and how
much they thirst for the gospel and sacraments.
But
where are the young men and women?
It
is saddening that people, young and old alike, have lost
the enthusiasm and desire to become “shepherds”
and “vine dressers” in the Lord’s vineyard.
The works of shepherding and vine dressing have become
less fashionable nowadays, especially in the face of so
many more lucrative and promising careers. The winds of
consumerism and materialism blowing around the globe have
left many young people in a confused state. Many tend
to give to Caesar a double portion of what belongs to
God. Everyone seems to be in a hurry, ultimately rushing
to nowhere. These phenomena have characterized our lives
so much that one seldom stops to ponder and reflect. Life
and living now take on a sense of worthlessness. Little
wonder Socrates said “an unexamined life is not worth
living.”
Yet,
in the midst of all this confusion and distraction lies
Christ’s gentle but persistent call: ‘Come follow
me…’(Mt 9:9); drawing Christians from every
race or color to witness to the good news. It is this
same call that came to me in Africa.
Like young Samuel, there was that initial feeling
of uncertainty followed by a sudden feeling of why me?
Then came the moment of acceptance, decision and finally
action.
One
should realize the spirit of God blows wherever it pleases
and when it does, it cannot be resisted. God might be
calling you for a special mission. But quite often our
noisy and busy surrounding tend to distort our hearing.
Now is the time to pause and consider. You can take up
the challenge too.
For
other issues of In Search of the Spirit
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For
more information, contact
For more information, contact:
Father
Steve Pawelk
Vocation Director
spawelk@glenmary.org
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