Have you ever noticed that St. Matthew was not called to be a follower of Jesus with the rest of the group? Maybe it was because he was a tax collector and not a fisherman hanging out down by the water that he was not called with the group to be a fisher of men. But maybe there was something else at play. Maybe Matthew was not ready to hear the words of Jesus. Maybe he was not prepared to leave everything and begin the journey of transformation at the same time as the others. It seems that Jesus knew that Matthew needed to be called in a special way and at a particular time.My call and response was sort of like that. Looking back I think I was first called by God to a special relationship as a Religious when I was in the fourth grade, yet it was not until 2007 that everything fell into place and I found my way to St. Scholastica Monastery and life as a Benedictine Sister. As I see it, God is pretty awesome for dealing with each of us with tender and attentive care. He is every gracious to meet us where we are, accept us as we are, and be willing to transform us in very exceptional ways.
Just like every leaf on the tree does not change color all at once, so too do we go through transformation at our own rate. Each of us is called by God in a special way and at a particular time. God takes care to love us and transform us in unique and extraordinary ways. God uses exacting care to prepare each of us for our personalized calling. We are all being loved into beautiful creations in God’s good time!
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Sister Lisa MaurerSister Lisa Maurer was born and lived in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, before entering the Monastery, She taught and coached in Catholic Schools within the New Ulm Diocese. Sister Lisa made her first Monastic Profession in August 2009. Her first ministry was working at the parishes of St. Lawrence and St. Joseph in Duluth. Currently she is the Mission Integration Manager of the Benedictine Health System.See all of Sister Lisa’s posts. |