Both of today’s Scriptures, 1 Samuel 9: 1-4, 17-19; 10: 1a
and Mark 2: 13-17, are about being called by God. Saul was out looking for his father’s donkeys
when he was called by Samuel and anointed for the purpose to which God was
calling him, that is, to be king of the Jews or, in the words of 1: Samuel 10:
1a, “commander over his heritage.” Levi was collecting taxes and, yes, pocketing
some of the money, when Jesus walked by his station and called him to be one of
the apostles. God calls us in the
ordinary events of any given day. Am I
listening? Do I hear God’s call, whether that be one’s vocation in life, a
career choice, the choice of a college, to risk dating so-and-so or the
challenge to reconcile with someone or an ordinary every-day decision such as
doing a particular chore? Do I respond affirmatively or do I simply ignore Him
and go my own way?
Where were you when God called you to the vocation you have
chosen, whether that is marriage, religious life, priesthood, or the single
life? I was in eighth grade and, out of
the blue, I knew that I was called to be a Sister. At age 20 that call became a reality for me
when I made first vows as a Sister of the Sorrowful Mother; five years later I
made that commitment permanent. Many years later I found out the origin of my
call. After being a full-fledged Sister of the Sorrowful Mother for many years,
and perhaps when I was in my 30s or 40s, I heard in prayer from my identical twin
sister (who returned home to heaven at age 2 ½) that my religious vocation was
a gift from her. She wanted me to experience the intimacy with God that she
enjoys. And religious life provides all
kinds of opportunities to grow in that intimacy. I have been truly blessed. I cherish the vocation to which I was called,
not that it is better than any other vocation but it is God’s will for me. It’s choosing that vocation to which God is
calling you that will give you the fullness of life, the peace, the joy, that
God wills for you.
Which vocation is right for you?
No comments:
Post a Comment