Radiant Faces at the General Chapter: Rediscovering Our Treasure

Joyful Faces of Leadership

Blessed Jordan of Saxony once wrote about Saint Dominic that:
“the serene balance of his inner self was expressed outwardly through signs of kindness and cheerfulness on his face.”

When I listened to the homily in which Brother Pascal Paulus from Pakistan recalled the image of Moses and his face shining after his encounter with God, I thought of all those joyful, radiant faces of the brothers on the first day of the Chapter.
I remember seeing some of them laughing out loud, and I asked myself: are these really provincials? Those who lead? So joyful? So relaxed? So brotherly? So human?

Let the reader not misunderstand me. I have experience of superiors who are just like that. But I was surprised that all of them—from all provinces—carry the same cheerfulness within themselves. As if joy and inner freedom were a gift that comes with the mission of leadership.
And yet there is not always a reason for it. It is not always easy to laugh. They do not always have something to be thankful for. I think many of them would be surprised, like Moses, if someone told them that their faces radiate peace.

The Treasure and the Pearl

And yet, as the preacher suggested, this joy comes from finding what is most precious: a treasure hidden in a field, a precious pearl.
As the Gospel tells us, those who found the treasure were willing to sell everything they had to possess it, because it seemed so precious to them.

“Each one of us — at some point — gave up something to follow Christ in the Dominican way. We found the treasure, and we said yes.

But this Gospel asks us: Do we still recognize the treasure? After many years of ministry, leadership, and responsibility — has the joy remained?

This Chapter is a moment of rediscovery — to recognize again what is most essential, most beautiful, and most life-giving about our vocation and our mission. We are not here to defend our structures or protect comforts. We are here to seek again the pearl of great price — the preaching of the Gospel, the building up of the community of brothers where Jesus is present, to preach the TRUTH “Veritas” and to take care of souls. “

Treasure Hunters in Christ

So they are, like me, treasure hunters. They are pearl experts. They are those who have already found the treasure and given everything for it.
Who knows, maybe the Chapter is also there to ask each other about the source of our joy — and to hear that for all of us it is Jesus Christ.
The truth we have always sought. The goal we needed. The meaning that no one else could give us.