"And its lamp was the Lamb." Rev 21:23

Reflection for the 6th Sunday of Easter (Year C) 

Earlier this month, a group of sisters from our Calgary house participated in a women's conference sponsored by the Beloved Daughters, a local Catholic ministry. One of the participants approached us to thank us for our presence at the event. She voiced her tiredness of daily haste, distractions, and difficulty focusing on what's important. Our religious habit was a gratefully received reminder "to remember to breathe," not only by inhaling the air but, most importantly, to be internally filled by the spiritual realm. 

Not only we, the people wearing visible signs of our Church affiliation, but all Catholics, should help one another to recall that this world is not a lasting place, that we are all pilgrims on earth, awaiting the glory of the promised Heavenly Jerusalem. We cannot rely solely on priests or sisters, especially since the habit is no longer a common sight in our society. Here in Calgary, we are blessed with some presence of the religious, but we were a rare encounter for women from outside the city or other areas of western Canada. 

How do we offer testimony to one another? It does not necessarily involve elaborate or heroic acts. We often underestimate the power of daily witnessing and living out the baptismal promises at home, school, or the workplace. Bringing them to life can be a powerful reminder for those around us; they contradict the "spirit of this world" that pushes us into a mindless rush and chasing idols. Faithfulness to our Christian obligations, spelled out in the Gospel, liturgy, and catechism, can stop someone in their tracks and make them wonder what motivates us and whether they could do the same. 

Commenting on the Book of Revelation, Bishop Robert Barron once said that God does not intend to destroy our world and take us to some new place. Instead, He wants to bring us the New Jerusalem and invites us to participate in restoring creation to the righteous order of love. This involves a struggle—a real war—but this war has already been won for us by the unblemished Lamb. Once offered for our sins, He now leads us through the waters of Baptism, feeding us along the way with His Body and Blood. He is our light, the light of the Holy City; this light is what we must keep in sight and point out to our fellow pilgrims.  

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--by Sr. Szymona, OP

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If you are a woman from the Calgary Diocese in Canada and would like to be involved with the Beloved Daughters, you may visit their website here: https://www.beloveddaughtersyyc.com/about