This Sunday the Church invites us to consider that we are called by God to live out our discipleship in a particular way. World Day of Prayer for Vocations places us with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who desires that we “have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) God who is Shepherd gently leads us to the “safe pastures,” near “restful waters,” and out of the “dark valley” to a place of “goodness and kindness.” (Psalm 23) God’s plans for us are exquisite: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you…plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, and I will change your lot.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14a)
How awesome is God that he desires a future of hope for us and he will listen to our prayers! We should therefore trust that the Good Shepherd will lead us to a way of living that brings us closer to him while we work to bring him closer to others.
When we think of the word “vocation” in the context of the Church, we go immediately to the call to priesthood, the diaconate, or religious life. But God calls us to marriage, consecrated single life, lay ministry, and more. In other words, every one of us is called by God to a life of holiness and we are asked to speak with the Lord in our prayer about how we are to live our life “more abundantly” through him, with him, and in him.
Once we have been invited by God, we need the wisdom and the courage to say “yes” and mean it. It takes family, parish, and community to support the one called, so it is important that each one of us support our brothers who are called to priesthood, the diaconate, and brotherhood; and our sisters who are called to consecrated life. Similarly, those called to other ministries in the Church must feel that we stand with them and that we will accompany them with our prayers so that they may truly discern God’s will and respond with a heartfelt “yes.”
On this World Day of Prayer for Vocations, please pray for those in our parish who are discerning God’s call. In particular, please pray for those who are discerning the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. We urgently need those unique workers in God’s vineyard to bring Christ to the world through sacrifice and sacrament. Pray that they will say “yes.”
Yours in Christ, the Good Shepherd,
