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Day 28: An air of excitement
10/05/2010
When this morning’s plenary session began, the moderator for the day, Fr. Phil
ESTRELLA, said that he noted an air of excitement among the capitulars. He
wondered if it is because of the papal audience tomorrow or the fact that there
remain only a few more days of Chapter work.
The capitulars continued to look at the final document that will communicate to
the Oblate family some conclusions of a Chapter whose theme was conversion.
But there was also an opportunity for the capitulars to meet in regional groups
with members of the newly-elected Central Government. With these new leaders of
the Congregation, the regional groups were able to communicate which of the
five calls to conversion they consider most important in their region. They
spoke about their expectations of the Central Government in accompanying them
in responding to the calls to conversion. And they could voice their
expectations of the newly-elected General Councillor for their region.
Fr. Pawel ZAJĄC (Poland) gave the weekly reflection from the Chapter’s
Listening Committee. He based his reflection primrily on two images, one from the New
Testament and one from the Old Testament.
The New Testament image was that of the Sermon on the Mount and the beatitudes.
Looking around themselves, the Oblates in Chapter can see themselves in the
poor, in those who hunger and thirst for justice, in those who are pure of
heart, in those who are peacemakers, in those who are persecuted and maligned
because of the Kingdom.
The Old Testament image was that of Nehemiah, “crossing borders” to rebuild
Jerusalem and present the Law of Moses to the people. Like the walls of
Jerusalem, some of the pillars of our Oblate family need rebuilding and
strengthening. Conversion and rebuilding are not easy. Just as the Jews of the
time of Nehemiah had to go back to their source, the Law of Moses, we too need
to read again and carefully our book of covenant, our Constitutions and Rules.
He concluded with the familiar words: “Do this and you will live.”
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