Consecration Inevitably Implies Mission

What does it mean to be 'elect'? How does being 'the people of God' differ from any other kind of existence? How does being chosen through baptism translate into the real world?
I came across this quote in some reading I was doing for a discussion group, and it immediately made me think of all those in RCIA who are preparing to receive the Holy Spirit in the Easter sacraments:

"When God consecrates a person, he gives a special gift to achieve his own kind purposes: the reconciliation and salvation of the human race. He not only chooses, sets apart, and dedicates the person to himself, but he engages him or her in his own divine work. Consecration inevitably implies mission. These are two facets of one reality. The choice of a person by God is for the sake of others: the consecrated person is one who is sent to do the work of God in the power of God. Jesus himself was clearly aware of this. Consecrated and sent to bring the salvation of God, he was wholly dedicated to the Father in adoration, love, and surrender, and totally given to the work of the Father, which is the salvation of the world."*

After I became Catholic, much of my family didn't understand why it had to be such a big part of my life. They understood that I had become part of this religion, and that made sense in the realm of ideas; but they didn't understand why this metaphorical switch had me running off to do Catholic things all the time like the Catholic Worker House. It just seemed weird.

I couldn't explain why it was so important to live out Catholicism as well as think it out, but now I think this quote above explains it well. I think all of us are in a continuous process of consecration, and thus we all are constantly being pulled toward mission: these are two facets of one reality.

This past Tuesday in RCIA, we were discussing morality and social justice, and Carla mentioned that social justice is often the "best kept secret in the Catholic Church." That's such a shame, but it's probably accurate since most people see spirituality and mission as different sorts of things.

This Lent, let's all take some time to think about what it means for us to be personally consecrated to loving and serving God!! - Stephanie

*"Essential Elements in the Church's Teaching on Religious Life as Applied to Institutes Dedicated to Works of the Apostalate." Sacred Congregation for Religious and for Secular Institutes, Rome: 1983.