For when my identity is fully grounded on a proper foundation; it is then that my mission is fully understood.

 

    Witnessing…witnessing…witnessing! To become a living witness of our faith is the most effective way of evangelization. This underlying presumption should be valued by all human beings especially those who aspire to embrace the life of service for the Church. However, become an authentic witness the mastery of the self is very much essential. In becoming an ambassador of God’s kingdom, it is important to know the very own self – the strengths and flaws, because this will become the asset toward an effective apostolate. Knowing oneself is indeed the starting point of witnessing and evangelization and the great foundation in confronting the challenges and adversities in the ministry.   

   Self-awareness and self-acceptance are necessary in doing pastoral ministry. Indeed, Pope Francis says that “we cannot lead others unless we can lead ourselves, so leaders dig deeply into themselves, confront their flaws, and, ultimately, achieve peaceful acceptance of themselves and the unique role they can play in the world.”[1] So much so that, we have to have a constant evaluation of our day to day living in order to know ourselves better, accept and understand what we are and have, and what can we do for the betterment not just for ourselves but also for others. We have to have introspection, deep within ourselves so that we may be able to recognize our strengths and flaws and later on being able to transcend towards others.

      My life and its very meaning, the values that I have to live, and the decisions that I have to make, depend solely on how I understand myself. Indeed, according to Michael D. Moga, “The self is “discovered” when we actively create ourselves, finding the unique paths that our lives were meant to take and directing our efforts along those paths.”[2] With this, I may become man grounded on my own self and this will lead me to be a man oriented towards others. Being grounded within simply means being who I am and what I am. Moreover, the only way to become a man grounded within is to embrace my own glory and downfall. I don’t have to be scared about my flaws because in the first place God knows them even before he called me.

        As a seminarian aspiring to become the ambassador of Christ’s love, I have to configure my whole self to God because it is then that I may become grounded in myself. I have to break myself and share it to others as Jesus broke his life for me. I may falter in my ministry, but the love of God will always lead me to go back to myself where I can find him. I have to make sure that my identity must be rooted and grounded in Christ for when my identity is fully grounded on a proper foundation; it is then that my mission is fully understood.

---

---

[1] Chris Lowney, Pope Francis Why He Leads The Way He Leads, 2003, pg. 9

[2] Micahel D. Moga, What Makes Man Truly Human?, 1995, pg. 49