Dominicas de la Presentación - Capítulo General 2019

La Turena, Bucaramanga (Colombia), 07/26/2019, P. Franklin Buitrago, OP.- This decisive and solemn day of election of the Superior General coincides with the memory of the saints Joaquin and Ana, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The book called Proto-Gospel of Jacques tells us that Joachim and Anne were two elderly and deeply pious couple who lived in Jerusalem, but had no children. This couple receives the announcement and the grace to conceive a girl, who would be the Mother of God.

A curious fact: the Proto-Gospel of Jacques that transmits the names of Joachim and Anne, is the same text that tells us the story of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple. We are within the same narrative and theological sequence. In fact, the story of Mary's childhood in the Proto-Gospel presents numerous parallels to the story of the child Samuel in the Old Testament: the name of the mother: Anne, who praying in the Temple asks God for a son and in exchange she promises to devote him to the cult, the miraculous conception of the creature and the presentation of the girl in the Temple to dedicate herself to the service of the Lord from early childhood. It is the story of God's elect who is called from the womb and who consecrates all his existence to the service of the Lord. We know that, in this sense, Mary presented in the Temple is a model and prototype for all of us who have consecrated ourselves to the Lord.

The first reading we hear is an Ecclesiastical text where praise is made of our ancestors, whose just actions are not forgotten, whose wisdom is commented by the peoples. We said on the first day of the retreat that a general chapter is a moment of gratitude: thanksgiving to God for his blessings and thanksgiving to all those brothers and sisters who have preceded us and who have built this religious family that we have today. In a solemn moment like the one you are going to live today, we feel the strength of a story that precedes us and the responsibility towards the future. We are part of a long chain of witnesses, consecrated persons, sisters who, generation after generation, have carried forward the ideal and charisma of Marie Poussepin and so many brave women; that charism that we must now transmit to the younger generations. Mary, daughter and mother, heiress of the promises of the Old Testament and first of the new Covenant, she who knew how to say yes to the Lord's plan, is presented as a model and hope.

For its part, the brief Gospel for this memory of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne is a bliss: the bliss of men and women of faith. Blessed are you, blessed are your eyes and your ears. Let us be flooded by this invitation that the Lord gives us to joy. You sisters have so many reasons to feel happy! Knowing that they are called to such a beautiful vocation, feeling heir to such a valuable tradition, being able to witness today of communion and fraternity with sisters from so many places in the world, to dream together with projects and initiatives that will transform lives and communities. The Lord insists on telling us that we are privileged, others would like to have these possibilities that we have, to live a communion like ours. Full of that joy we could say with the psalmist: Look how glad to see the sisters gathered in harmony!

Remember that Jesus says this bliss when his disciples ask him why many of those who hear the parables do not understand them. Many seeing do not see, listening do not hear. The light of faith is needed to see the work that God is doing in our midst. The chapters and the choices between us must always be seen with eyes of faith. It is not about imposing individual wills. It's about looking for the common good together. It is about listening together to the Spirit that allows us to discern, see more clearly, understand where the Lord calls us. And we all know that to understand this we need a look of faith, the light of hope, an attitude of charity. That is why it is so important and so telling that as Dominicans we begin our elections with a Eucharist invoking the assistance of the Holy Spirit.

Sisters: may the joy and hope born of faith accompany you in the decisions you will make. May the light and strength of the Holy Spirit encourage us to continue consecrating our life with generosity following the example of Mary. Amen.