Soon it’s the spring season, and with it the vegetation is green again, the flowers will resume life and color. Those that were transplanted in autumn (leaves falling) or will be planted during the spring will put a little more time to flourish.

We too have been transplanted many times in our lives and it is not always easy to bloom again each time. We faced acclimatization and rehabilitation issues.

“Jesus asks us to live his words”

Certain Passages from the apostolic letter written by Pope Francis on the occasion of the Year of the consecrated life can help us to bloom again. He said: “The question that we are called to ask ourselves during this year is whether we allow ourselves to be challenged by the Gospel and how; if it really is the handbook for our daily lives and the choices we are called to do. It is not enough to read it, it is not enough to meditate on; Jesus asks us to implement it, to live his words. We have to ask again: Is Jesus really our first and only love? Only if this is so that we can and must love in truth and show mercy to every person we meet on our way, because we have learned from him what love is and how to love: we will love because we have the same heart. In this letter I also selected three tips that would help us in our community life.

“He invites us to be joyful”

First of all he invites us to be joyful: “that we should not see among us sad faces, unhappy and dissatisfied people. Like all other men we have difficulties, disappointments, diseases, decline of forces due to old age. It is precisely in this that we should find the “perfect joy”, learn to recognize the face of Christ who became like us in all and thus experience the joy of knowing that we are like him, for love of us has not refused to undergo the cross. »

“The path of love is almost infinite”

Then he asks us to live in communion: “I invite you to re-read my frequent interventions in which I keep repeating that criticism, gossip, envy, jealousy, antagonisms are the attitudes that do not have the right to live in our homes. But, as its being said, the path of charity, which opens before us, is almost infinite, because it’s the continuation of the reciprocal hospitality and attention to practice communion of material and spiritual goods, fraternal correction, respect for the weakest. »

“Do not withdraw on yourselves”

Finally it is to open up to the outside: “Do not withdraw on yourselves, do not be suffocated by small house disputes, do not stay as prisoners of your own problems. They will get solved if you go outside to help others solve their problems, and announce the good news. You will find life by giving life, hope, by giving hope, love by loving. »

The temptation is to say that it is better elsewhere than where one lives. The earth is certainly better to bloom. To illustrate my point here is the story of weeds:

“One day a young man came to a hermit and said:” I am disappointed with my church and looking for a perfect community. “Then the old man brought him towards the walls of the old chapel and asked him: ” What do you see on the old walls, young man?» «Foam and especially weeds “replied the surprised young boy.

‘You see,’ continued the hermit, yet God lives in this building! This is the Church (community). It can  be neither pure nor perfect because it is made by men. You too are a man, and even if one day you discover the perfect Church (community), it will no longer be the moment you will enter it. »

To end, I underline this reflection of pope François which writes: ” where there are members of a religious order, there is of the enjoyment. ” Can we say the same thing as regards communities sma? To all, I wish a good blooming and a good party(holiday) of Easter.

In conclusion I emphasize this reflection of Pope Francis, who wrote: “Where there are religious, there the joy is.» Can we say the same thing as regards to the SMA communities?

To all, I wish good blooming and happy feast of Easter.

Michel Bertonneau, sma