A Call To Realism

The theme of a tumultuous world continues in today's Gospel, but rather than being discouraged or frightened at the situation Jesus described, which undeniably can be applied to our times, let us look upon it as a call to realism...to accepting things as they are.  We are indeed still deeply involved in major cultural and political changes, not to mention a religious crisis hitting Christianity like an earthquake.  Rather than frighten us, they should push us to seek Jesus as our light and strength as we try to respond to the needs of our times in an intelligent, responsible and bold way.
Again referring back to the Marist Founders, they did not bury their heads in sand, but attacked their realities head-on.  Franciose  Perroton, founder of the Marist Missionary Sisters, heard God's call to be a missionary and answered it at age 49, boarding a ship without any money to pay for the trip and sailed several months until reaching Wallis Island in the South Pacific.  The ship could not get close enough to land, so the native people waded out and carried her to shore on their shoulders.  The king ordered a little house for her on the shore and she lived there for 8 years, a quiet, prayerful presence.  Eventually more women came from Lyon and some of the local women joined her but it wasn't until 1932, long after the deaths of Franciose and the other 10 Pioneers, that the group was given pontifical recognition.  Today there are 441 sisters on three continents whose work is the work of Mary:  to make Jesus known and loved.
God is still calling; he never stops. Are there people chewing on this daily slice of bread who also have the courage and generosity of Franciose Perreton to face today's realities and do something about them?  People are searching; the time is ripe. Pray for courage for yourself  or for others  to take up the challenge to help others find THE WAY.
Bro. Rene