Eugene’s understanding of the Oblate vocation was to a lifestyle and mission that was as close as possible to that of Jesus and his apostles, and in our first Rule he defined us as being “called to be the Saviour’s co-workers, the co-redeemers of mankind.” In our recent series of reflections on the parish missions we saw how they tried to imitate as closely as possible the spirit and the actions of Jesus and the disciples on mission in Israel. It is in the light of this that Eugene writes:
I have said that my intention in dedicating myself to the ministry of the missions to work especially for the instruction and conversion of the most abandoned souls, was to follow the example of the Apostles in their life of devotedness and self-denial. I became convinced that, in order to obtain the same results from our preaching, we had to walk in their footsteps and as far as we could, practise the same virtues.
Rambert, I p. 187
Their first mission experience together in Grans had convinced Eugene of the need to go deeper than just actions – they had to imitate the virtues, the deepest bonds that existed between Jesus and his apostles. It was a call to be penetrated through and through by the profoundest aspects of this relationship:
I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. (John 15:15)
For me, this is oblation: a commitment to being friends of Jesus and living the fullness of communion and intimacy with him as apostolic missionaries.
Today I struggle a little with this. I do not know if it is a sign of what is going on in my life, but I do struggle – to the extent that I first read it and then started to look at postings from other dates that did not ‘bother’ me quite so much. And there were plenty there, but back here I am.
I heard God call me by name, I heard God say that me loved me, that I was his. And I responded with everything that I was, and am. I started to live that out, I started to live my life in response to that love. Always with a deep consuming yearning and prayer that I give myself totally to God. It made perfect sense to me that only by giving all that I was/am to God would I be able to give anything to others – not just a fanciful and holy thought, but a real and actual way of being. And even as I now write this a small light is going on and I find myself starting to relax. I am where I am supposed to be, where I have been created to be. How do I let my God love me here, where I am, with all that God has given me.
I did not always know how I would live this out. But certainly when I met Saint Eugene – well there was more than just a nice inspiration. Eugene’s words, touching me, expressing what I had quietly and secretly been praying for for many years. His spirit, his charism shared with me and showing me a way to live that. It all resonates so clearly and deeply within me.
“For me, this is oblation: a commitment to being friends of Jesus and living the fullness of communion and intimacy with him as apostolic missionaries.” What Frank has shared – eloquent and true. Can I look at myself as an apostolic missionary? Not in the traditional sense perhaps, but it has to be greater than gender, that cannot become a limiting factor, part of the equation but not a hindrance. I thank you God for creating me as I am, for loving me and for giving me others to walk with. I start this day singing “Here I am Lord – Is it I Lord? – I have heard you calling in the night – I will go Lord – If you lead me – I will hold your people in my heart.” My oblation today.