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The Call of God
The readings for today build on those we’ve heard the last two weekends.
The Baptism of the Lord signals the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry;
last weekend we heard of John the Baptist’s call to testify to Jesus as the
Savior whom people were awaiting. This weekend, we hear the call of the
whole people of Israel to be a light; the latter section is the same passage
that we heard on Christmas Eve at all the Masses. Equally important, we hear
of the call of Simon and Andrew, James and John.
Having been a vocation director for most of my
religious life, I can’t resist writing about vocations. Everyone bemoans the
fact that there aren’t enough priests, sisters and brothers around. So we
pray for vocations constantly. But this is not enough. In addition to
prayer, we need to help the Lord out by planting the seed in our young adult
children and grandchildren, neighbors and friends. Since there are fewer of
us these days, it isn’t so common for families to grow up actually knowing a
sister or priest or having had us in their homes. Though we have excellent
teachers in our school and religious education program, we don’t have
sisters there any more.
You know what you want to see in a religious or
priest: someone committed to God, who wants to be of service and can relate
well to many different people. Obviously, a major issue is that of celibacy.
Who do you know who fits that description and who might be happy as a person
who has many healthy relationships, but none as intimate as marriage? Would
you be willing to ask that young adult if he or she has ever thought of
priesthood or religious life?
Nowadays, thankfully, there are many options
for these same women and men who want to marry and to live a life of
service, including teaching, youth ministry, social work and, for the men,
the permanent diaconate. But I find it difficult to believe that God is no
longer calling people to priesthood and religious life. These are not higher
callings or holier callings, but they have been important in the life of the
Church since the fourth century and still have a place among the variety of
gifts with which Christ blesses the Church. So, would you please think about
someone at St. Robert’s whom you’d like to see consider religious life or
priesthood? And then mention it to him or her? Not pressure, because the
call has to come from God and be answered in the person’s heart, but
planting the seed. Thanks much!
Peace,
S. Sheral
P.S. I’m happy to
let you know that Senator Diane Feinstein has met with the staff from the
Archdiocesan Office of Public Policy and is now a co-sponsor of the Jubilee
Act. |
