Fourth Sunday of Lent: The Light And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen and done in God. In Jesus’ time, light was a valued and scarce resource. Oil for lamps was expensive and carefully rationed. Moving away from the light of a village campfire was risking danger. Traveling in the darkness of night meant exposing oneself to wild animals or criminals. For Christians around 100 AD, the metaphor of Christ as the light would have particular resonance. They frequently lived in dark times of persecution, and to attest to believing in Jesus was dangerous. They looked forward to a time when their belief in Jesus could be safely expressed in the full light of day. Today, for those of us fortunate to live in a country where religious freedom is protected, the “darkness” we encounter manifests itself in things like greed, exploitation, violence, racism, and sexism. These aspects of life can cloud our vision and lead us to choose evil over good. Jesus lights the path for us to pierce the darkness and come into the light of goodness, truth, and faith. Think of a dark time in your life. Who or what did you reach out to? Adapted from Word on the Go, a downloadable resource from RENEW International
God’s Infinite Vision: Our Journey to the Borders and Beyond From left: Holy Cross Sr. Sharlet Wagner, past president; St. Joseph Sr. Jayne Helmlinger, president; and Adrian Dominican Sr. Elise García, president-elect (GSR file photo) The LCWR assembly is an important moment for collective reflection on the twin crises hitting the world at this time – COVID-19 and the realization of how deep systemic racism is in this country. The more than 900 assembly participants engaged with one another in prayer, conversation, and discernment about how this reality is changing their lives, their institutes, the people they serve, and literally, the entire global community. The world is being irrevocably changed and it cries out for healing, care, and transformation. This assembly provided time for the participants to listen together to those cries and ask themselves collectively how to respond. Questions for Discernment During The Assembly What does it mean to serve in religious life leadership at such a fragile, uncertain time? What new opportunities do the pandemic and the cries for racial justice provide so that the world may move in closer alignment with God’s infinite vision? What is the call to women religious at this time? We invite you, the visitor, to read the following articles about the virtual assembly, the new LCWR President and the Outstanding Leader Award. lcwr_2020_virtual_assemblyDownload lcwr_2020_Elise_GarciaDownload lcwr_2020_patty_chappellDownload