Leadership
New Life
by Fr. Mark Miller, c.pp.s.
The Season of Advent is a time of anticipation, of cleaning house, so as
to make room for a Savior. This “cleansing” takes on many different forms,
from receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation to ending a habit which
we know is not healthy or life-giving. It is also a time of introspection, to
become aware of any obstacles that constantly get in the way of deepening
our relationship with the Lord. It is a time of preparation for something
or someone “new.”
There are several images which have been used to describe the “spirit”
of Advent. One is that of a bird making a nest to lay its eggs. The bird goes
about its work with a determination but also a diligence to make sure the
nest is suitable for the “new life” to be born in it. Another image is that of
parents who are expecting a child and the many different aspects which
go into their preparation, knowing that this “new life” is going to change
their whole world. No matter what image one uses, the season of Advent
is indeed about “new life” waiting to be born within us.
We as a missionary community have committed ourselves to be “re-
created” so as to embrace our mission of hospitality, reconciliation, and
renewal for the sake of the Kingdom in a way that will speak more clearly
to our world of today. How this “re-creation” will take place has not yet
been revealed, but it will be revealed if we are open to the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit. As in any re-creation, there will be changes, there will
need for new structures, there will be an invitation to look at our mission
in a new way while at the same time being faithful to our charism and
spirituality. We will have to deal with our fears, but also allow our hopes
and dreams to move us forward into whatever this “new life” will be.
However, this will not be done in a vacuum. We have our history, we
have the witness of those who have brought “new life” in the past, and
we have our spirituality and charism to guide us. There may be perceived
obstacles along the way, but they do not need to deter us from pursuing a
more vibrant and energized direction.
There has been a desire and even some conscious work on creat-
ing Mission Houses, recognizing that they will likely take new forms.
There seems to be a desire to live in community, but how that would be
expressed is not so clear. There seems to be a desire to enter into new
ministries, especially ministering to those on the margins of society and
sometimes even the margins of the Church. The “cry of the blood” seems
to be heard on many levels in our world. Within our younger members,
continued on page 5
December 2017 • The New Wine Press • 3