Week 3

Introduction:
In the previous CFED subjects you have taken, you may have observed
that they’ve followed the SEE - DISCERN - ACT method that was
introduced by Joseph Cardinal Cardijn inEurope. It was then
recontextualized into the CONTEXT - INSPIRED WORD OF GOD –
CHURCH TEACHING – MISSIONARY RESPONSE (C-I-C-M)
method. The Context introduces you to a better knowledge of your present
situation. The Inspired Word of God provides a reading from the Sacred
Scriptures that is relevant to the topic. The Church Teaching presents a
well-selected excerpt from the riches of the Catholic Church’s document
that supports the Bible text. The Missionary Response provides you with an
activity wherein you apply the lesson in your actual life situation as a way to
evaluate your learning. For this particular module, the See-Discern-Act and
the CICM sequencing will still be followed. However, it is uniquely
contextualized to the Filipino concepts of “SANDIWA-SAMPUSO-
SAMBUHAY.”

Lesson Proper:
Why “Sandiwa-
Sampuso-Sambuhay?”
Theophile Verbist, who died barely five years after founding the CICM, did
not create a motto for the Congregation. The creation of CICM motto was
under the Generalate of Fr. Constant Daems (1930-1934). The motto “Cor
unum et anima una,” (One Heart and One Soul) was first included in the
coat of arms of the Congregation on October 5, 1933. The motto was taken
from the Acts of the Apostles: “The whole group of believers was united,
heart and soul” (4:32). This quotation expresses God’s vision for
humankind, for his creation. This means that Jesus came to reveal that
God is our Father. This is the core of the Gospel message. In Jesus, we
become God’s children through the Spirit’s power. Consequently, we are
brothers and sisters of the same family. The CICM chose this missionary
motto of brotherhood to be the source of intense communion, a source of
joy and peace. That is why, the CICM missionaries are challenged to
become witnesses and instruments of universal brotherhood. The CICM
Constitutions affirmed, “Religious missionaries of different races and
cultures, we live and work together as brothers. “One heart and one soul”,
we witness to the Father’s will that all men and women be brothers and
sisters in Christ. We are a sign of solidarity among the particular churches
in their universal mission (Art. 2).” The CICM Motto is embedded in the
module because they are important for the students to embody in their daily
task. The “sandiwa”, “sampuso”, “sambuhay” are Filipino CFED 1071-
Embracing the CICM Mission A| 4CFED 1071- Embracing the CICM
Mission A| 5 reappropriation of the CICM motto. This institutional course is
to be taken by all students across all programs and regardless of religious
faiths and affiliations. The course will enhance your critical reflection in the
workplace. It will also embody in all your activities the universal values
of service, integrity and compassion. Finally, the liturgical life (religious
involvement) as a part of your day-to-day lives. In accomplishing the given
tasks, you will be able to actualize the Louisian charism to reach out to the
least, the last, and the lost.
Biblical
Reading
The Revelation to Samuel

(1 Samuel 3: 1-18)
The Biblical passage from 1 Samuel 3: 1-21 has been studied from the
perspective of the call. A deeper analysis reveals that an important theme
is a discernment. This module focuses on the theme of discernment and
the answer to the divine call. The topic of discernment is a particularly
current theme, especially in your preparation for the On the Job Training
(OJT).
When a soul embarks on a genuine process of discernment, it is always the
case that he or she will grow in intimacy with Christ and mature in faith and
love. This is because the goal of discernment is not making the right decision
per se (or avoiding the wrong one) but growing in knowledge and love of the
Trinitarian God and of our self. As we deepen our knowledge of our
Beloved and increase our trust in him, we become better at knowing his
heart and more inclined to choose what he wants for love of him.
Significantly, choosing what Christ wants is not one of resignation, fear, or
obligation. Instead, our choice will be experienced as one of great joy
because as we grow in intimacy with God and our inner self, we find that
what he wants is truly what we want too.
Dealing with the biblical text (1 Samuel 3: 1-2) will highlight the elements
that render Samuel a symbol of discernment. With this symbolic character
and an emphasis on the CICM core values and the universal values of
Integrity, Compassion, and Service, you will be inspired to face the
challenges along the way. This will lead to the realization of a lived
spirituality and applying the same to where you will emerge. Like Samuel,
the human being needs to listen, so you as a student need to listen,
discern, and act.
Discernment: Making Inspired Choices

Here are some tried-and-true pointers adapted from the
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops that can help
you discern God's will.
An inherent part of life is the responsibility to make difficult, challenging,
and sometimes even painful decisions. Making important decisions often
requires time, prayer, and discernment. Perhaps today more than ever, we
face a greater multiplicity and complexity of decisions in ordinary day-to-
day living. In the discernment process, we consider the options, balance
the advantages with disadvantages, and carefully examine
the consequences. "How will I know . . . what is good, right, or best? How
will I know what God is calling me to?" Before the rainbow was shown in
the sky, perhaps Noah wondered, "How will I know?" Before John the
Baptist sent his disciples from his prison cell to find Jesus he must
have asked, "How will I know?" When Thomas heard from the disciples that
Jesus rose from the dead, he must have struggled with the question, "How
will I know?" As Mary Magdalene gazed into the empty tomb that first
Easter morning, she must have pondered, "How will I know?
Today, as in Jesus' own time, God continues to give signs to help us to
decide, to discern, and to know what the Lord is asking us. In particular,
there are four general signs which are often seen.
Availability and Openness

 Am I open-hearted to whatever God is calling me?
 Am I disposed of and free to respond to that call?
Desire
 Do I sense a degree of potential satisfaction, hope, or joy when I
consider religious life?
 If it is God's will, do I trust that it can be fulfilled?
Proper Motivation
 Is my primary motivation of a spiritual nature, such as serving and
loving God and God's people?
 Would I experience adequate happiness and fulfillment?
General Disposition
 Do I have reasonably good health, emotional stability, social ease,
and spiritual-centeredness?
 In a more specific way, there is a rather practical spiritual
discernment process which can be a tool or guide to help us
determine what God is calling us to. This discernment process
combines reflection, prayer, dialogue, and Scripture.
One way to prepare for discernment is to make a timeline of your life story,
from your birth to the present day. Reflect upon the following:
Significant Persons in My Life
 Who have been the people in my life?
 What has my relationship been with them?
 How have they influenced me positively and negatively?
 Who has had the most impact on me?
 Reflect on your experience of family
o What have I learned?
o What do I value?
o What do I want to let go of?
Educational Experience
 Did I like, dislike, favorite memories, activities, friends, significant
events, people?
 What did I learn of life that I want to keep? What gets in the way?
Faith Experience
 What's your earliest recollection of God?
 Who taught you about God?
 Who has had the greatest influence in faith development?
 How was church, faith, God in your family?
 What practices do you do to care for your faith life?
 Where did you learn about these practices?
 Who is God in your life?
 Name your experiences of the Divine in your life.
 How did that feel, what impact did these have?
END of LESSON 3

Week 3

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Introduction:

The Revelation to Samuel

Discernment: Making Inspired Choices

Availability and Openness

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