Our Ministry is Jesus' Ministry

(a small reflection on movie Dead Man Walking)

The movie, Dead Man Walking really gives me many inspirations and examples about ministry, an important thing for me who have chosen to live a religious life. For me, what Sister Helen did really shows how my life and ministry as a Jesuit should be. There are two points I want to reflect on Sister Helen’s excellent examples.

Firstly, I want to reflect on the fact that she chose a ministry avoided by others. For me, it really reminds and shows me the Jesuits’ way of proceeding, which was our way of life for many years. When other nuns, even other religious, avoided such ministries, Sister Helen involved herself deeply and totally to this kind of ministry. She really followed Jesus’ example to touch those who are untouched in the society. Some religious tend to choose ministries which make them famous and popular, work with people whom they are comfortable with, but we Jesuits are supposed to choose a ministry avoided by others. This time will be a good time for me to learn and train myself doing my ministry in this way because in Jakarta (philosophical study) I will not be able to be involved in any ministry until I am in my second year of Philosophy.

The second one I want to reflect on is about cura personalis (personal care) which was showed by Sr. Helen in the movie as she accompanied Matthew Poncelet. As she said, “I’m just trying to follow the example of Jesus, who said that a person is not as bad as his worst deed,” She really treated Matthew as a person who needed help while other people despised him as an animal. She didn’t look at what Matthew had done but at him as a human being who needed help. It is just like what Jesus did to the prostitutes and tax collectors. Those people, who were marginalized by society, are usually incapable of experiencing God’s love. And it is our duty to make them capable of it because that is one way to make them realize that their lives are meaningful. It is very hard for them to experience God’s love because their lives are usually very hard and their society usually does not accept them. Once we can do this especially through cura personalis, it will be quite easy to collaborate with them as helpers to their fellow human beings.

The important thing in ministry is that we should always follow Jesus’ example, draw our spirit and energy from Jesus and give up the final result to Him. Our ministry is not our ministry but Jesus’. It is very important to do our best, but it is more important to give up the result to the will of God. He who starts good works will continue and finish them.

I'm just trying to follow the example of Jesus, who said that a person is not as bad as his worst deed.

Indefinite Formation

Today, Fr. Manny Flores, SJ and Fr. Ted Gonzales, SJ pronounced their final vows. It was a simple but great and solemn celebration led by Fr. Daniel Patrick Huang, SJ, the Provincial of Society of Jesus in Phillipines Province. In 1976, they joined the Society and only after twenty eight years, they finish their formations.

As I reflect on this occasion, I look at my vocation, and I see a long pathway leading to my final vows and to the end of my life. I cannot esteem how long my formation will be. Before my first vows, I was told that I was going to be sent to Pillipines for Juniorate program which means my formation wil be one year longer than thos in my batch who do not experience the Juniorate. That made me quite sad and upset, but I try to make up my mind that I might find new experinces in the Phllipines. It was four months ago. Now, as I reflect on my first three months here, I find that it’s not about how long my formation will be, but it is about how generous I am to the Society and the people, how deep I internalize the values and way of life of the Society, and how mature I am in study, apostolate, prayer and community life.

I belong to the Society though I haven’t wholly accepted, but maybe I havne’t had the sense of belonging to the Society. Therefore, formation will be my time to learn how to have this sense of belonging. Then as Fr. Manny said in his words after his vows, I can aslo say in my final vows that I belong to the Society and she belongs to me.