CONVERSION

What is conversion?

•A leaving – of one’s present style of living, and

• A following – Jesus, in the charism of Francis

WHO AM I?

Conversion is:• Rooted in the love of God● A response• Total change• Theological• A constant return to the truth

of the Gospel• A renewal

FROM THE GOSPEL

“The time IS fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God IS near; be converted and believe the Gospel.” (Mark 1:15)

• “IS” – indicative, announces a fact: the gift of God.

• “Be converted” – imperative – the response to the gift.

TRUE FAITH vs. APPARENT FAITH

● True Faith•Recognizes the way of the cross.•Accepts the way of the cross•Requires commitment of our whole

existence to Christ

• Apparent faith • Simply confesses Jesus is

Messiah • Simply proclaims Jesus is Son of

God

WHAT IS CONVERSION?

An understanding of Christ by way of conformity to Him.

A total change of:•Our thoughts•Our feelings•Our beliefs•Our actions•Our goals

CONDITIONS OF CONVERSION

Deny yourself•Renounce all personal projects•Welcome the project of Jesus•Die to self

Take up your cross•Condemned by the “common

mentality”• “YOUR” cross – not someone else’s• “TAKE” it – don’t make one.

CONDITIONS

Follow Him.•Means a conformity of life with

Jesus.•Requires a full and total

involvement.•Communion with the Master is

total.•Undo every bond in order to be

bound to Christ.

HOW WE LIVE

Must live our existence as a gift. Disciple can’t have different

destiny from the Master. Jesus asks us to follow him

closely and without looking back. Bind ourselves to Christ. Be inflamed by love for Christ.

PARAPHRASE OF OUR FATHER

Your will be done on earth as in heaven:

• That we may love God with our whole heart by always thinking of Him.

•With our whole soul by always desiring Him.

•With our whole mind by always directing all our intentions to God, and by seeking His glory in everything

•With our whole strength by spending all our energies and affections of body and soul in the service of His love and of nothing else.

NO ROOM FOR COMPROMISE

Hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves•Desire nothing else•Want nothing else• Let nothing else please us

EXCEPT OUR CREATOR, REDEEMER AND

SAVIOUR

CONVERSION & FORMATION

This total conversion is the goal of formation.

It will only happen if we seek daily conversion as our Rule tells us.

Goal of initial formation is to bring those being formed to where they can continue this conversion for life.