Shepherds

This Sunday we hear of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and the Church asks us to spend time thinking and praying about vocation — how we are called by God. As Christians, we are all invited by the Lord to a particular way of living out our discipleship. For some it is marriage, for others it is the single life. Some are called to the priesthood, diaconate, or consecrated life. However we are called, we are obligated to respond generously. On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we have been asked to focus on the priesthood, diaconate, and consecrated (religious) life. I was privileged to serve our diocese as the vocation director for a number of years, and I spent four years as the rector of Saint John Fisher Seminary in Stamford before coming to Saint Aloysius. In that time I witnessed many generous men of every age who said “yes” to their invitation to serve the Church as a priest. Bolstered by their Catholic Faith, encouraged by mentors, they trusted in Christ who led them to the seminary and gave them what they needed to bring others to Christ and save souls.

In my time in vocation work I came to realize that there is no vocation crisis – Christ is always calling. Rather, there is a “yes” crisis. The world often teaches that money, power, self, and freedom from any restriction are the most important things. Jesus offers a radical opposite and teaches that if you want to be truly free, then work for the freedom of others. This is what ministry in the Church is all about: finding the lost sheep, bringing them home to Jesus, freeing them of their burdens, helping them live a life in Christ, and get them into Heaven. For some, saying “yes” to such a life is easy. For others it is difficult because they may not even be encouraged by their parents, siblings, or friends who worry that priesthood or religious life is too radical according to current social constructs.

Here’s the bottom line, if we commit to doing what God is calling us to do, we will be genuinely in love – with God and with His Church (i.e., His people), and most people would agree that falling in love is exquisite, exhilarating, and life-giving. If God is calling you to a selfless life of full-time ministry in the Church, please don’t run the other way. If your child says he is called to the priesthood, please don’t worry; instead, please pray for him, support him, and feel proud that you raised him in the faith and helped him to know he is loved – by God and you – and help him to get to the “yes” that will get him to his true calling.

We are so blessed with four married men in our parish who are actively discerning the permanent diaconate. See the cover of this week’s bulletin for a great photo of Michael Crane. With the support of his wife, Alycia, and their three adult sons, Michael said “yes” and God is continuing the good work begun in him and will see it to fruition. Pray for Michael, our three other brothers who are discerning, and for all who are praying that they will have the courage and the grace to say “yes” to the Shepherd.