God Continues to Call

“The Lord heals the broken-hearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

The Psalm used in this weekend’s liturgy praises God for the compassion, tenderness and care God shows Israel. It also expresses, in the poetic language of the Psalms, what we see of Jesus’ ministry in the Gospel. His proclamation of the Good News is accompanied by healing and forgiveness – Jesus heals the broken-hearted, binds their wounds, lifts up the downtrodden and shares with everyone he encounters the beauty and joy of God’s love.

Our world today stands in need of the compassion, tenderness and love of God. For the poor, the homeless, those with mental and emotional illness and those on the margins the pandemic has made their situation even more precarious. We also recognize that large numbers of people are subjected to racism, homophobia, ageism, and discrimination of many kinds.

Just as Jesus reached out to those least touched by the society and institutional religion of their day he continues to call disciples to follow his example and be instruments of God’s compassion, tenderness and care. Two hundred and five years ago St. Eugene de Mazenod and Fr. Henri Tempier responded to that call and the seeds that grew into the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate were planted. God still calls men and women to live the Oblate charism of “proclaiming Good News to the poor” as vowed religious and Oblate Associates. Just as it did in post-Revolution France, the world today is in need of people to live that charism and help transform our world. Is God calling you to “heal the broken-hearted and bind up their wounds”?

By Richard Beaudette, OMI
Vocation Team – East
613-806-3435
vicar1@omilacombe.ca