A Homily on Vocations

Today, in the Roman Catholic world, Good Shepherd readings were brought together with vocations awareness.

The homilist at my parish took the opportunity to discuss vocations of the ordained type, completely ignoring all other vocations.

What's a good Catholic woman to do? Well, apparently, my role is to get on my knees and pray that "our children and grandchildren" might hear a call to ordained ministry.

[My inner voice was screaming, "you mean 'our sons and grandsons'"! Now is not the time to use inclusive language!]

The homilist was very passionate about this topic--to the point of tears, in fact. You could tell that he really believed in his message, and that it was very important to him. I understand that. In fact, it was encouraging to hear such passion from a Catholic pulpit. However, he was speaking a message that was meaningful only to a small group of the hundreds who sat in that church.

So, as I left the church today, I was thinking about what I would write in a homily, given the topic of Good Shepherd and vocations. Here are some of the points I would talk about:

1. Every Christian is called - that's what "vocation" means.
2. Every Christian is called to follow Christ, to do our best to walk his path and trod in his footsteps. It's not easy, and very few of us feel that we succeed.
   
3. So, if Christ is the good shepherd, leading his flock by the sound of his voice, then we too are called to lead others to Christ by what we say and do.
4. That includes those who are called to full-time church ministry, whether they are ordained, religious, or laity.
5. That also includes all other Christians, whether they work in business, education, social services, the government, the home, or are retired.
   

The point is this: an ordained minister might be passionate about his ordination and the responsibility that it brings, but not everyone is called to ordained ministry. In fact, many people are barred from ordained ministry.

So if you are going to stand in front of a congregation and talk about vocations, you might want to think about what message those who listen are going to hear. I heard, "pray - that's all the ministry you need to give."

And that is way off target.

Leaving Everything Behind

"Leaving everything behind, Levi got up and followed Jesus."

So I think this might be my answer to reflections from Thursday--leaving everything behind. How gutsy was it of Levi to follow Jesus? For that matter, how gutsy is it for anyone to leave behind their lives to follow Jesus?

While I struggle with the "what-ifs" of this question, I am so happy with my decision to join a religious community. I was walking last night, under the stars, and I was thinking about friends who are far away, whom I love and miss. I was sad. And then I started thinking about how my life is changing, how my attitudes are different, and how I am going to (as my friend put it) "live in God's house." God has chosen me, and I see that chosen life in front of me, and I am happy.

I'm still sad about the friends that I miss, but they are still with me, and they are still supportive of me, even if they are far away. I look forward to the time when I will not be just thinking about religious life and what it will be like, but when I will be living it!

Vocations Prayer

- from usccb.org

Creator of the Universe,
God of the Nations,
Your people are longing to hear your word.
Send laborers to into your harvest--
women and men on fire with your love:

- Dedicated single people who incarnate your presence in their daily lives, whose availability enables them to respond to a diversity of needs.

- Married couples whose relationships serve as a sign of your fidelity to your people, whose love overflows to their children and neighbors.

- Ordained ministers who gather the prayers and longing of your people, who serve as a channel of your presence through the sacraments.

- Religious sisters, brothers, and priests whose life in community foreshadows our eternal unity in Christ, whose service brings your life to the world.

May each of us respond
with courage and generosity
to our particular vocations, and
may the Church recognize the Spirit's call
to men and women of good will,
trusting in your abundance
to answer all our needs.
Amen.