about service of our brothers and sisters in today’s culture of self-worship and seeking after vainglory.

When Jesus spoke to his disciples, he did not talk of power nor of authority but of love. To those who dreamed of a kingdom where they would have special places beside him, Jesus offered a different way - that of humility and self-giving: “ Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”4

Let us gaze upon Jesus as he washes the feet of his apostles and let us allow the Spirit to move us that he may renew and transform us. Jesus does not simply tell his disciples: You ought to wash one another’s feet, but he goes about putting it into action. Through this example, Jesus teaches us that he wanted to be present among his friends as one who serves. Thus he lets us know that the Holy Eucharist in which we participate each day should not be reduced merely to the signs of the bread and the wine. It ought to be lived out in mutual service and fraternal love. St. Paul tells us “…be servants to one another in love.” 5. After washing the disciples feet, Jesus gave them his testament: “ I give you a new commandment: love one another; you must love one another just as I have loved you.”6

How did Jesus love them ?

As Servant and Lord, Jesus was concerned most of all, about fulfilling the Father’s will. He sought to do this in every circumstance of his life – in all events and persons, he ever encountered .7 All we need to do is read the Gospels to be taken up in Jesus’ teaching and examples that show his love for his brothers. His entire public life can be summed up in a mission of service founded on gratuitous love.

Jesus always takes the time to consider with kindness and attention each person he meets; he engages in conversation, inspiring trust in the person: “What do you want me to do for you?”8 Each person is precious in his eyes. Christ has loved with a human heart, worked with human hands, acted with human intelligence.9

4 Mt 20 : 26-28

5 Gal 5 :13

6 Jn 13, : 34

7 BL# 71

8 Mk 10 : 51

9 Gaudium et Spes n° 22

Jesus’ life was consistent with his teaching. His teaching was accompanied by concrete actions. He healed the sick, made miracles, taught the crowds and took pity on them. In the gospel

of Mark, Jesus called his disciples to him and said to them: “I feel sorry for all these people; they... have nothing to eat.” He invites the disciples to share his compassion: “If I send them off home hungry, they will collapse on the way; some have come a great distance...” Like a good mentor, Jesus does not act alone. Through the disciples, he wants us to take part in his ministry.

“and he took the seven loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them and began handing them to his disciples to distribute; and they distributed them among the crowd.”10

Before leaving his disciples, he told them once more : “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; no one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.” “As the Father sent me so I am sending you.”11

For Jesus, mission and love are one and the same, wherein mission is the concrete form of love. Mission should always be the expression of God’s overflowing love for one’s neighbour channelled through the one who is sent.

Jesus, whom the Father sent, entrusted himself totally to the Father. He was loving and obedient unto death. He, the beloved Son, held fast to do the Father’s will by willingly accepting darkness, sufferings and laying down his life as an offering, but he vanquished death and sin. The Cross we venerate on Good Friday is the greatest sign of Jesus’ love for us. It will always be there at the very heart of our lives and it becomes glorious when we accept to walk with Christ until we reach the radiant light of Easter.

Since it is through Christ’s resurrection that we have life, how can we, his disciples, expect to follow him in this spirit of service , if Jesus did not rise from the dead? Indeed, the resurrection is the revelation of the eternal love of the Father and the Son, a love that renews itself through the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out into our hearts bringing it to the fullness of the paschal mystery12 . Christ’s resurrection is ever new with the promise of life, an invitation to witness, joy and mission for the Church.

The Paschal mystery is of great importance to the concrete living out of our consecration. Believing in the paschal mystery ushers transformation in our daily life: we learn to find meaning in suffering which when united to the

Jesus’ passion could bring forth abundant fruits. When we live our faith in

ourselves, but also for the world into which we are being sent.

This is likewise what St. Paul tells us: “Blessed be the God and Father...who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which

we ourselves are comforted by God.13

To serve as Christ served- this is our mission, a mission based on a love that gives, and gives of itself freely. Paul has personally experienced this gratuitous love of God in an intense manner when he met Christ on the road to Damascus. Love alone, a deep and great love, can urge anyone to volunteer to a service that leads to joy. Consecrated life is at the service of the Kingdom of God. It is important because it is an overflowing of grace and of love.14

Saint Paul, this indefatigable voyager, left everything to go to peoples of all races, languages and nations and announce the Risen Christ to them. Nothing could stop his ardor: neither torments, nor dangers nor death. He was impelled by such love for Christ. Similarly, there are many obstacles that block our path today. Let us then turn to our Patron Saint, our example and guide, asking him to obtain for us the grace to overcome our fears. As such we can be of help to the distress in the world and proclaim to the poor and the suffering:

Christ is risen, He is alive, Alleluia !

With the Sisters Assistants, Secretary and Treasurer, I greet you and all your loved ones a joyful Easter and reiterate my fraternal affection for you.

                                                                                      Superior General

13 2 Cor 1: 3-4