Religious life has a deep spiritual significance that transcends human understanding. The spiritual dimension of religious life is the contemplative, intimate and personal loving relationship with Jesus. The prophetic dimension has to do with our involvement in community living and in ministry.

The prophetic and the spiritual are inextricably linked. In other words, the prophetic dimension will make no sense at all if the spiritual dimension is absent.

I will dare to suggest that some of us (religious) have lost our prophetic edge because of our failure in the spiritual-contemplation, personal and community prayer, regular retreats and spiritual direction, etc.

Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5).

Living the vowed religious life is “a journey in faith and an adventure in hope” (Const. 7). As Presentation Brothers, serving this extraordinarily extravagantly loving God, our ministry of Christian formation will continue to yield healthy spiritual fruits only if we endeavour not to lose sight of the mystical dimension of our call.

As we embark on this journey through the season of lent, let us pay heed to the exhortation of Perfectae Caritatis, the second Vatican Council’s Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of Religious Life: “Let Religious, then, be faithful to their profession, leaving all things for Christ, following Him as the One thing necessary, and let them concern themselves about His concerns” (article 5). If we heed this call, I believe our community life and ministry will find true spiritual meaning, fulfilment and fruitfulness.