Called to Faithful Commitment

Formation 2010Faith and Light International

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Call• A claim on my heart that comes

from God that I cannot ignore (without impairing my life)

• A deep desire to follow Jesus in some concrete way of love

• An invitation to enter more fully and more deeply into the heart of God

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• This call is rooted in a profound personal experience - deeper than dreams, ideals, feelings or ideas- inviting a transformation of my heart and of my way of life.

• In order to be faithful to who I most truly am, I am moved to respond.

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We, all of us, our whole selves, all our energy, our life, are made for God, for Love, and we cannot be satisfied with anything else. God’s deepest desire for all of us is that we become fully alive.

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Many people around the world experience Faith and Light as the

context in which they have discovered their call from God - their special way of following Jesus along

the Way of Love

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Vocation• I am in Faith and Light because

God has taken the initiative and has called me to this way of living the Good News of God’s Love

• I can answer, “Yes” or “No” or “Perhaps”

• God’s call invites a whole-hearted response from me.

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Fidelity• God is absolutely faithful to us

• We are called to be faithful to God who is present in one another and in ourselves

• Fidelity is to the whole relationship– Not just to the dimensions we prefer or to

those which are easier for us

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Single-hearted• The world does not value fidelity

– Expect the minimum– Different rules for different persons– Focus on the negative (not doing…)

• Jesus offers us a bigger vision – God loves each one of us absolutely,

unconditionally, as we are - with our capacity to grow and to change

– God invites us to become more fully ourselves

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• The Scriptures use the image of marriage to speak about fidelity

– Embrace the whole reality of the other– Celebrate the other’s gifts, beauty and

goodness– Hold them in their fragility– Invite them into the next step of love– Deal with all that comes– Day after day, year after year, no matter

what– As God loves us

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• Fidelity is actively working to develop and to deepen the relationship

• This is the role of the Holy Spirit - 24/7, infinitely creative, inviting, moving us to grow, encouraging us to keep following the way of Love – Especially when it is dark, difficult,

frightening, demanding

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Commitment

• My whole-hearted self-investment for bringing about the Reign of God in this actual context with these people

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• The world does not encourage commitment– Keep your options open; be “free”

• Paradox - I become truly free only when I engage myself wholeheartedly - investing my gifts for the good of others.

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Some Dimensions of Commitment• Presence

– I commit to be as fully “here” and “available” as possible for the sacred work entrusted to us; putting aside my “agenda” in order to receive the gift of the other

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• Openness of mind and heart

– to one another

– to the work at hand

– to the movements of God’s Spirit

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• Mutuality

– to share from what I have been given and to welcome from what others have been given

– this is not mine; this is not yours; this is ours.

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• Reliability

– I will be there, accepting my share of the work and doing what I agree to do.

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• Trust

– in God

– in my companions

– in the collective wisdom of Faith and Light

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• Full participation

– willingness and freedom to work together with these people, giving what I can

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• Deal with and work through difficulties

– We, together, will face conflicts and difficult situations, working to resolve them in a spirit of loving cooperation.

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Communication

• The most crucial and problematic human activity

• Begins with listening, allowing the other to “empty their heart”

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• I commit to share with you about whatever affects our relationship and our work together – feelings, concerns, ideas, desires, preferences, gratitude and sense of accomplishment.

• I commit to receive from you, without judgment, whatever you need to share. I will do my best to understand you and what you are trying to say.

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• Dialogue– Everyone listening and everyone speaking

• I statements – My experience - What is real for me– Something is going on in me / with me– No talking about others

• Clarification – If something is not well understood - ask

• This is not clear for me.• Would you please explain?

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– Open / transparent

– Honest

– Direct

– Respectful

– Caring

I commit that my communication will be:

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• God offers a great treasure to me, to us - Faith and Light

• Was I searching or did I “happen upon it”?

• What will I do with this invaluable gift?

• How much am I willing to invest in this enterprise?