Did you know that that people living Religious Life profess a vow of poverty? Some people think it’s just about living with less and I guess sometimes it is. But the real significance behind the vow is that we attempt to live our lives in a way that keeps our relationship with God and each other at the forefront never letting material possessions or wealth take center stage.
By emptying ourselves we also have more room for God’s love and a bigger share in the mission of salvation given to the Church. That’s why we consciously choose to surrender all of our possessions to the “communal treasury” and then take from it what we need to carry out this mission with joy. It keeps us humble and spiritually alive while giving us extra resources to share with those who do not have enough. If that life appeals to you then maybe you have a calling to Religious Life.
May God bless us as we try to live simply so that Christ’s love and peace might renew all of our lives during this season of Lent!
