Thursday, May 19, 2011

FILLING IN THE NEED – A Higher Calling

         By declaring and claiming the identity of being a Breviarian means acquiring the duty of being soldiers of Christ.  As a Brev, we are responding to a higher calling of filling in the needs of our dear Mother Church.  This higher calling has a special vow attached to it – availability (thanks bro.A!).  It does not mean however that you are always physically present, but that availability to go the extra mile in answering to a certain call in the most creative way possible you can think of or inspired to do.  It may sound difficult, but saying “Yes” to God gives you a special anointing to carry out a task He requires of us.  We could make many excuses of turning our backs to a certain call, but when God chooses you, that means there is no other person who can actually do the way you are capable of doing.  Question is:  Can He count on you?
                “Filling in the Need” may have become a cliché in our community but let us be reminded that this is one of the basic reasons why we existed and are still existing.  God continues to call us because the work He has for us is not done yet.  Rest is in heaven.  God has given us this special grace to recognize a unique path to sainthood – making each moment of our lives a DIVINE APPOINTMENT...a priority above all as we have to PUT HIM FIRST in everything.  [M.O.B.] – Make good Or make room But don’t make excuses!

                When we took the name Brevs, it did not only mean we are to be active Catholics.  It called us to be REAL sons and daughters of the Father.  Have the faith that the Holy Spirit moves in our lives, thus, we are expected more than the ordinary...because we can....because He chose us.

                Maybe we do have our own wills and personal plans, but God gives us more than we can understand.  So when God calls, are we willing to obey and make His plans our own?  Can we say, “READY” like Abraham?  Can we leave our nets IMMEDIATELY like Peter?  Are we willing to follow Him in any road and obeying at any cost?  Or are we like those who were willing to follow but had to take care of some matters before being ready?  Because He was not part of our current schedule?  What is our priority? Let us be reminded that in the end, our relationship with God matters most.  

                We are indeed challenged to prove our love to God.  Is He still number one in our lives?  With all the wonderful things we do in our lives, at the end of the day, can we say we were working according to His holy will?  Or were we just relying on our own understanding and putting all human efforts to do something successful leaving no space for Him to work with us? Let us not forget that He is our partner; not merely a Master.

                The task is most of the time toilsome yet it is full of His loving surprises.  There is no specific perfect time when to respond to God’s call of love as each moment of our lives is GOD’S APPOINTED TIME.  We may feel unworthy, we may feel small, we may think we may be emotionally compromised (like me J)...we may make the biggest mistakes  or even become everyone’s heartaches...but never fail to trust in His mercy for He will see us through because He alone knows what each of us can do.  

                We have our motto:  Nothing but the Best for God!  Oh yes, in everything we have to prepare ourselves like real soldiers and just wait until the Lord has in need of us.  That’s the way DAVID prepared himself.  He was young and was just a shepherd boy, but he was anointed and had great faith in God.  When the battle was set before him, he recognized the call and responded bravely and immediately because he knew that God was on his side and while he took pleasure on His blessings, he wanted to prove God that He could also count on him.  The victory was not that he defeated Goliath.  It was more of being there when THE appointed time came for him for God’s glory to manifest. 

                So you see, we don’t wait until the storm has passed or if we are ready, healed or perfect before we start serving or loving God.  We don’t wait for the others to change or to go first before we respond.  Again, it is between you and God.  Our READY YES is more than enough for His grace to overflow and use us in His own unique way.  And for those who think that we have given our best and have responded to a call in the past, be reminded that while we carry the name BREVIARIANS, the call of making a difference in this world to make manifest the glory of God never ends as long as we are able to breathe.  

                You are called...you are anointed...you are chosen.  Once a Brev always a Brev.
              
                HAPPY EASTER!  Brev It On!