Let Ourselves Be Transformed by God's Dream! Inspiring Reflection by Fr. Jean-Marie Kabesa Bilwala

LET OURSELVES BE TRANSFORMED BY GOD'S DREAM!
By Fr. Jean-Marie Kabesa Bilwala, priest
This August 4 , 2025, "Feast of St. Jean-Marie Vianney"
INTRODUCTION
In this Jubilee Year 2025, I present my reflection on the theme " Let ourselves to be transformed by God's dream ". The Christian life is a witness. It transcends rave speeches, fine words, politics, and more. It is the witness of an authentically Christian life. "Contemporary man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers" (Evangelii Nuntiandi, n. 41).
To achieve this, we must call upon the presence of the Holy Spirit in our daily encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is essential that our actions reflect our words, and that our words are in line with our actions. Let us still remember this Quebec expression, that I literally translate: " The boots must follow the lips. This phrase emphasizes the importance of aligning our words with our actions; we must act in accordance with what we say.
We are certain that the secret to rejoicing in the Christian life lies in our ability to let ourselves be transformed by God's dream. I am convinced that this reflection will provide answers to the following fundamental questions: Why let ourselves be transformed? But what is the Dream of God? I am delighted to be able to answer them! I will begin with an exciting introduction, and then I will explain the noun groups "letting oneself be transformed" and "God's Dream", placing them in the context of the Christian life. Finally, I will give you a conclusion that I am sure will take your breath away!
LETTING ONESELF BE TRANSFORMED
What a joy for me to be able to make you discover what can be understood by "letting yourself be transformed"! And what a joy it is to be able to do so based above all on the Holy Scriptures!
The Apostle Paul boldly addresses his sisters and brothers with a fervent exhortation: "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is the Will of God, what is good, and what is acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2).
Those who are not subject to this transformation tend to behave erratically. They are full of malice and cunning, envy, strife, deceit, and other harmful things (Romans 1:28-31). It is then that we fully grasp the reason why the apostle exhorts those who have become Christians to transform themselves and renew their lives.
To let oneself be transformed is an act of unconditional love. It’s a way of consecrating oneself body and soul to the Lord, of making Him the center of our universe. It is to let ourselves be guided by His light, to follow in His footsteps, and to welcome a new heart, a new spirit, which allows us to see life with new and hopeful eyes (Ezekiel 36:26). It is an act of faith in oneself and in humanity. It is to let oneself be guided by love, renouncing all bitterness, animosity, anger, clamor, slander and malice (Ephesians 4:31). It is to let oneself be transformed into a benevolent, compassionate person, ready to forgive like the forgiveness that Christ has granted us. It is to let ourselves be guided by the light of hope. We must know that together, we can become better people, better for others, better for each other. (Ep. 4:32)
What a joy to discover that letting oneself be transformed is a journey of conversion and renewal! We wholeheartedly join the cry from the heart launched by Pope Francis: to be missionary disciples, enthusiastic in evangelizing and witnessing to the love of Christ through the holiness of our lives. It is "a profound change of outlook and heart" (Evangelli Nuntiandi, No. 10).
The Christian life is a magnificent adventure. It’s an experience that, as Sr. Lorraine Caza says, must be "regulated in such a way as to become a reciprocal help for all brothers and sisters so that each one may realize his own vocation"(cf. pp. 182-186). It is a life where we dare to change things, where we follow the law of the Gospel and the law of the Beatitudes, so that each sister and brother can flourish and contribute to the construction of a better world. When we put Jesus Christ in the first place and live his Word, we become authentic witnesses and capable of witnessing to God's Dream.
GOD'S DREAM
In his unambiguous message, Saint Paul makes a crucial distinction between the works of the flesh, marked by vices such as impurity, hatred, discord, jealousy, strife, splits and feelings of envy, and those of the Spirit, embodied by charity, joy, peace, long-suffering, helpfulness, kindness, trust in others, faithfulness, meekness and temperance.
This text is a refreshing change! He reminds us that the 'Dream of God' is to live in love and happiness, in the greatest of happiness, the happiness that only the Spirit of God can offer us. The Dream of God is to live in the Beatitudes, to live according to the divine will! Oh, what does that mean, exactly? The Apostle Paul declared with unwavering conviction: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). It is "seeing the beautiful, appreciating the good and doing the good!" (Leblanc Sylvie, p. 21). We are living and witnessing to God's love. This is what awaits us! We live in the union between God and us, and between ourselves. We live it for ourselves and the people we meet along the way. This sacred duty is to seek out and care for wounded sisters and brothers in welcome and mercy.
Pope Francis articulated it eloquently: we must be a "field hospital" with open doors. We must welcome anyone who knocks on our door to ask for help and support. We must break out of our comfort zones and reach out to others with true love. Our goal is clear: to walk with the wounded, to include them, and to lead them to the source of salvation. Jesus tells us, and this is a fundamental truth, that "it is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Mark 2:17). Let us be transformed by the Dream of God is the path to personal and spiritual fulfillment. It is to wholeheartedly welcome one's sister and brother in the Lord, to accompany them with unwavering benevolence and dedication. It is a bridge, a link between our sisters/brothers and the divine light, not a barrier between them. We must experience intimacy with the infinite love of Christ. This intimacy will nourish our soul and illuminate the path to eternal peace and joy.
It is clear that in the Christian life, we encounter sisters and brothers whom we have not chosen, but whom God has graciously offered us. I am convinced that these sisters and brothers are a mystery. Each of them has its own stories, wounds, qualities, and limitations. We are committed to taking care of them, protecting them, and providing them with a space to thrive. We must learn to transform all our relationships into real opportunities for harmony. We must not see the other person as an opponent or a competitor. We must see them as a person in their own right, with their own qualities and differences. This is an invaluable step that deserves to be commended. It fosters interaction between generations and cultures, creating an environment of exchange and richness.
CONCLUSION
We have reflected on the theme "Let us be transformed by God's Dream." Here are our findings. The "Dream of God" leaves no doubt: it designates God's plan, the purpose for humanity. This dream comes to life through the coming of Jesus Christ, the establishment of his Kingdom, and the profound transformation of hearts, the conversion of hearts. It is the "action of being reborn, of returning to life after a state of real or apparent death" (Rabelais, p. 135; Ezekiel 36:26). This plan is the key to restoring the relationship between God and mankind. This union makes our environments spaces of faith, love, and light. It is a profound privilege to allow the Dream of God to transform our lives. This makes us witnesses of His Love and trains us to show self-sacrifice.
Dear readers, love is the keystone of life, and it's a truth that never ceases to delight me! It is time to restore love, justice, peace, and rebuild the sacred bond that unites our worlds. In the Christian life, we are truly blessed. We are united by the Lord in one body in Christ Jesus. We are fortunate to be able to let ourselves be led and guided in our daily lives, and we must do so! How? Listening to the voice of the Lord is a sure way to feel transported, overwhelmed by an intense joy, and exalted. Where? Prayer, adoration, reading, the Eucharist, silence, and testimonies of life are all ways that people of God reveal themselves to us. This is true even during meditation. I know that allowing ourselves to be transformed by the Dream of God is a gift that cannot come from our own strength. The process is simple: it asks for the grace and help of the Holy Spirit. Dietrich Bonhoeffer (p. 31), a prominent theologian, strongly warned against subordinating spiritual communion with Christ to an ideal of human reflection.

Dear readers, draw near to the Lord. He makes us discover His Love and Mercy every day!

Bibliography

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Benedict XVI (29 June 2009). Encyclical Caritas in Veritate. Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich (2007). De la vie communautaire and The Bible's prayer book. Geneva: Labor et Fides.
Caza (Lorraine). "À vin nouveau, outres neuves?" in Reflets des transformations de l'identité de la vie religieuse. IN HIS NAME-Consecrated Life today. Vol. 75; No. 4; September – October 2017; pp. 182-186.
Francis (Pope). (2013, November 24). The Joy of the Gospel. Rome: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Leblanc, Sylvie. "The Art of Living in Thanksgiving"; in Thank you
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Rabelais. Third Book, XVIII, 61, ed. M. A. Screech, p. 135

Fr. Jean-Marie Kabesa Bilwala is a regular contributor to Catholic News World