I. SIGNS OF VITALITY

After Vatican II there is a thirst for the Word of God among Religious men and women. It has become the centre of spiritual life and apostolic mission. Concrete and concerted efforts are made to study and reflect on the Word of God at all levels of formation. Bible Study Groups and specially praying with the Bible are fostered among the laity and even at encounters with people of different religions.

Through our ministries the Word of God has become a powerful means of evangelisation, specially in the Third World and communist countries like China and Vietnam. Today the Scriptures are read and interpreted from varied perspectives that emerge from the realities of life and from the needs of marginalized groups.

II. BLOCKS TO PASSION FOR CHRIST AND PASSION FOR HUMANITY AT THIS TIME

The Word of God is available to us as text but not as a living source of life because of lack of adequate knowledge and understanding of it and a fundamentalistic approach in interpreting it. Resistance to listen and submit our lives to the spirit of the Word and deficient biblical formation have promoted devotional spirituality and pious practices in religious life. The Divine Office does not become meaningful to daily life because its biblical depth and its relation to life are not acknowledged.

Access to the understanding and acceptance of the Word of God is hampered either because of a highly academic or a weak and outdated interpretation of it. Inability to listen to God in the history of our people and in our own lives obstructs us from listening to God in the written Word. Insufficient integration of the Word and our personal life adversely affects our ministry of proclaiming and witnessing to the Word.

III. DESCRIPTION OF NEEDED STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN LIFESTYLE AND MINISTRIES

There is a need for a radical transformation from ‘professionalism’ to an evangelical lifestyle. Learn to incarnate the Word in our ministries and make the Bible our daily companion. Allow oneself to be evangelised by listening to what the Word means to others. Formation at all levels should have a profound biblical foundation in order to confront critically fundamentalism, spiritualism and devotionalism. For personal and community discernment we commit ourselves to give priority to the Word of God, giving it more space in our daily life and making our prayer more intensely biblical. Communitarian practice of Lectio Divina should become a regular means for transformation of our lifestyle and ministry.

IV. BIBLICAL TEXTS THAT CAN THROW LIGHT ON THIS SITUATION AND CHALLENGE US TO TRANSFORMATION

Jesus of the Gospels should be our central icon and norm in choosing biblical texts that challenge us to transformation. This is seen in relation to the whole of the Bible.

- Re-discovering community life through encounter with Jesus (Emmaus): Lk 24: 13-35

- Leadership is service: Jn 13

- Seekers of wells and roads - Samaritan woman and man: Jn 4 & Lk 10:38-44

- Ordained to serve: Acts 6: 1-7

- Mary, model of discipleship: Lk 1&2, Mk 3: 33-35, Lk 11:27-28, Jn 2: 1-12, 19:27-28

- The Psalms, Exodus 3 - Burning Bush, Genesis 19 & Ex 32 – interceding for the people

V. CONVICTIONS AND ACTIONS TO MOVE CONSECRATED LIFE FORWARD

Convictions:

· The Word of God is the source of consecrated life. Growing in faith and community building are the result of listening to the Word (Rom 10: 14-17; Lk 8: 19-21). Nourished by the Word, we are transformed into “servants of the Word in the task of evangelisation” NMI 40. Passion for humanity is compelled by passion for the Word.

· Listening to the Word creates a climate for interpersonal relationship and is a school for inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue.

Actions:

· For biblical formation for a life long commitment, we invest in personnel and share our resources (financial and personnel) across congregations and continents.

· A role of leadership is to engage itself and its members in Biblical reflection at all levels.

· Make the Eucharist the privileged place for listening to the Word.

GROUP 8

29 participants: 19 nationalities, 28 congregations

I. SIGNS OF VITALITY

V. CONVICTIONS AND ACTIONS TO MOVE CONSECRATED LIFE FORWARD



	GROUP 8 29 participants: 19 nationalities, 28 congregations TILLING THE SOIL OF SACRED SCRIPTURE I. SIGNS OF VITALITY After Vatican II there is a thirst for the Word of God among Religious men and women. It has become the centre of spiritual life and apostolic mission. Concrete and concerted efforts are made to study and reflect on the Word of God at all levels of formation. Bible Study Groups and specially praying with the Bible are fostered among the laity and even at encounters with people of different religions. Through our ministries the Word of God has become a powerful means of evangelisation, specially in the Third World and communist countries like China and Vietnam. Today the Scriptures are read and interpreted from varied perspectives that emerge from the realities of life and from the needs of marginalized groups. II. BLOCKS TO PASSION FOR CHRIST AND PASSION FOR HUMANITY AT THIS TIME The Word of God is available to us as text but not as a living source of life because of lack of adequate knowledge and understanding of it and a fundamentalistic approach in interpreting it. Resistance to listen and submit our lives to the spirit of the Word and deficient biblical formation have promoted devotional spirituality and pious practices in religious life. The Divine Office does not become meaningful to daily life because its biblical depth and its relation to life are not acknowledged. Access to the understanding and acceptance of the Word of God is hampered either because of a highly academic or a weak and outdated interpretation of it. Inability to listen to God in the history of our people and in our own lives obstructs us from listening to God in the written Word. Insufficient integration of the Word and our personal life adversely affects our ministry of proclaiming and witnessing to the Word. III. DESCRIPTION OF NEEDED STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION IN LIFESTYLE AND MINISTRIES There is a need for a radical transformation from ‘professionalism’ to an evangelical lifestyle. Learn to incarnate the Word in our ministries and make the Bible our daily companion. Allow oneself to be evangelised by listening to what the Word means to others. Formation at all levels should have a profound biblical foundation in order to confront critically fundamentalism, spiritualism and devotionalism. For personal and community discernment we commit ourselves to give priority to the Word of God, giving it more space in our daily life and making our prayer more intensely biblical. Communitarian practice of Lectio Divina should become a regular means for transformation of our lifestyle and ministry. IV. BIBLICAL TEXTS THAT CAN THROW LIGHT ON THIS SITUATION AND CHALLENGE US TO TRANSFORMATION Jesus of the Gospels should be our central icon and norm in choosing biblical texts that challenge us to transformation. This is seen in relation to the whole of the Bible. - Re-discovering community life through encounter with Jesus (Emmaus): Lk 24: 13-35 - Leadership is service: Jn 13 - Seekers of wells and roads - Samaritan woman and man: Jn 4 & Lk 10:38-44 - Ordained to serve: Acts 6: 1-7 - Mary, model of discipleship: Lk 1&2, Mk 3: 33-35, Lk 11:27-28, Jn 2: 1-12, 19:27-28 - The Psalms, Exodus 3 - Burning Bush, Genesis 19 & Ex 32 – interceding for the people V. CONVICTIONS AND ACTIONS TO MOVE CONSECRATED LIFE FORWARD Convictions: · The Word of God is the source of consecrated life. Growing in faith and community building are the result of listening to the Word (Rom 10: 14-17; Lk 8: 19-21). Nourished by the Word, we are transformed into “servants of the Word in the task of evangelisation” NMI 40. Passion for humanity is compelled by passion for the Word. · Listening to the Word creates a climate for interpersonal relationship and is a school for inter-religious and ecumenical dialogue. Actions: · For biblical formation for a life long commitment, we invest in personnel and share our resources (financial and personnel) across congregations and continents. · A role of leadership is to engage itself and its members in Biblical reflection at all levels. · Make the Eucharist the privileged place for listening to the Word.