Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for my sake and for the gospel’s sake, but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30)
These words of Jesus hit me powerfully and have been life-altering in my choice to follow Jesus radically.
From the outset of my vocational discernment, I only thought of what I had to give up. It was not easy to leave behind my plans: to be successful in corporate finance, and to get married and have a happy family. Yet, based on the promises of Jesus, I had much more to gain. Jesus assured that what is sacrificed for him is returned a hundredfold in spiritual riches and purpose; what is surrendered to him brings true freedom and joy.
Pope Benedict XVI clearly expressed this point in his inaugural homily: “Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to Him, we receive a hundredfold in return” (April 24, 2005: Mass for the inauguration of the Pontificate- Vatican).
God is a generous giver! He gives abundantly. Rather than taking away, He offers blessing after blessing, grace after grace, goodness after goodness.
That’s how I have experienced Him in my consecrated life. His love and friendship are enough for me. He abundantly provides for me “pressed down, shaken together, and running over” (Luke 6:38). Missionary life is a profound joy, defined by deep intimacy with Christ and deeply invested in the lives of others.
My spousal relationship with the Lord is the source of my fruitfulness as a religious woman and missionary in the mission of bringing others to Christ. He has given me a large family across the world, many spiritual children and eternal fruitfulness.
Accompanying young people, married couples and Verbum Dei Missionaries in their formation has been a profound experience; like St. Paul, enduring the “labor pains'” of spiritual motherhood until Christ is formed in their lives (Galatians 4:19).
Spiritual motherhood is nurturing the birth and growth of Christ-followers. It is a mission of touching the lives of others, nurturing them with formation and spiritual retreat, and accompanying them in their knowledge of Christ up to their maturity in Christ.
In my missionary assignments across the Philippines, Mexico, Spain and Italy, God blessed me with experiences of serving and empowering young people to live out their calling as 'salt and light', cultivating the best in them and enabling them to be true ambassadors of the Gospel in their families, neighborhoods, workplaces, organizations and the Church. I know that the seed sown in my past missionary assignments is being tended by wonderful spiritual children who are advancing the mission in those places. It brings me joy to know that the spiritual family I left behind is growing and continuing our mission.
When I left my previous mission, the people I journeyed with gave me this Bible passage, “Those who have taught many people to do what is right will shine like the stars forever” (Daniel 12:3).
The promise of God isn't just a destination after death; it is a present reality. By stepping into spiritual motherhood, I am experiencing the hundredfold return — the deep, life-giving joy of seeing spiritual children grow and mature. I am able to have an impact on people’s lives that lasts beyond this generation, to the next. This provides a level of fulfillment that biological or material ties alone cannot offer.
In the consecrated life, one shifts the meaning of abundance from accumulation to connections; from material wealth to relationships. In the Gospel, wealth is measured by the lives you touch and the spiritual family that surrounds you. This is the palpable evidence of God’s faithfulness in this present age.
By leaving behind my own biological family, plans, country and ambitions, I have opened my arms wide enough to embrace a much larger family. It is this self-emptying that allows God to fill our lives with the hundredfold of spiritual children and sisters and brothers.
Jesus continues to expand my heart, broaden my horizons, widen my capacity for a new place of mission and service. I am now assigned here in California, with the privilege of being at the service of the Diocese of Sacramento, welcoming my new large family and dedicating myself to walking alongside the people God has called me to love.