Corinne Lorenzet

As I have reflected on Article 14 of our Rule, I have continually been drawn back to this verse from the Gospel according to St. Mark, which is our OFS-USA theme for 2025-2028. Jesus gives his disciples this command when appearing to them after the Resurrection, when they had not believed Mary Magdalene, nor the two that had been walking along the road to Emmaus. In Mark’s Gospel, this scene is followed quickly by the Ascension, and the disciples “…going forth and preaching everywhere…”. (Mark 16:20).

In early December 2025, one of the daily gospel readings was from Matthew 7:24-25 “…like a wise man who built his house on rock…it did not collapse because it had been built solidly on rock.”. Article 4 of our Rule, placed at the beginning of Chapter 2, The Way of Life, is, to me, that rock, that foundation of what it means to live our Rule.