This Sunday’s readings speak to us about the call that comes from God. The prophet Isaiah seems anxious and uncertain as he encounters God who asks “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” Eventually, angst turns to surrender as the prophet exclaims: “Here I am…send me.” In the Gospel, Jesus calls the first disciples. That experience has its own share of doubt, awe, wavering faith, and guilt; but the outcome is nothing short of vocation perfection: “they left everything and followed him.”
Each one of us is called to a life of service to God and neighbor. What we leave behind when we commit to that life might include ego, a personal agenda, prejudice, obsessions, addictions, possessions, and fear. When God invites us to step away from whatever is preventing us from being our true selves, it is wise to say “yes.” Submitting to God’s desires for us is living like Jesus lived: completely obedient to the will of the Father. How do we get there? By heeding the words of Jesus spoken to the “first-called”: “Be not afraid.”
I ask you to pray for those in our diocese who are discerning a call to priesthood, the diaconate, consecrated life, and lay ministry in the Church. God always calls. Our prayers will help those called to say “Yes!” To help you put a face to your prayer, take one of the seminarian prayer cards on the shelves in the back of the church and pray for those guys often. Thanks!
Praying that we may never be afraid to leave everything, go to Jesus and love our neighbor,
Welcome to the Saint Aloysius! Our parish was founded in 1896 to serve the Catholic families that were settling in the greater New Canaan area.