FATHER JORGE BRAVO
Father Jorge Bravo was an extraordinary man who lived in spiritual poverty and knew how to offer his life as the great saints did, living in absolute humility, a sensitive and quiet heart, with a deep faith that could be seen at a glance and a great devotion to contemplation. I remember his homilies, full of great spirituality and with a feeling seldom seen, since by the mere fact of reading the Gospel he would enter as though into an ecstasy and burst into tears as if he felt that God himself was present. What devotion, what abandonment, and what a great privilege to have had this great priest, who spent his life doing good!
As a contemplative, he would tell us: “Only a contemplative heart can be a transformed heart; only a contemplative and transformed heart can be a heart that evangelizes and proclaims with the strength of the Spirit the good news of the living and risen Christ.” Transformation and evangelization without contemplation are impossible; there may be appearances, disguises and fine words, perhaps even an extravagance of organization and activity, but never the witness of a heart that proclaims what it has seen and heard, touched and contemplated of the word of life.
Contemplation is the source, the nourishment, the gain of the transformation that evangelizes. What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we contemplated and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life, is what we proclaim so that you may live in communion with us.
There are some verses written by Father Jorge Bravo that I had the privilege of setting to music, which say: “My house of prayer is my heart, my house of prayer is my wounds, my house of prayer is my spirit; enter into me, enter into my heart, enter into me, enter into my wounds, enter into my spirit.” As you can see, it is an invitation to contemplation. There is another of the Father’s poems that says: “Lord, whenever you wish, come silently, knock at the door and call, and I will go with you,” a heart in total abandonment to the will of the Father.
Father Jorge also used to tell us that life is a bridge that we must cross to reach the presence of God, and he taught us not to remain on the bridge but to go on with the beloved of our heart, trusting and hoping, because God is with us, with a contrite and humbled heart and in total abandonment to the Father.
There are many things that can distract us along the way, but if we persevere and do not let ourselves be confused, we will reach that fullness that Jesus has reserved for us; we will enter his dwelling and worship him for all eternity. I am fully certain that Father Jorge is living that grace, because “Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.
Written by: Nelson Morales
Community of the Servants of the Living Christ