Here we are
again, thinking about
the Lord
and how He draws people
like us –
or people like you??? – to
desire to
do as He did, Who laid
down His
life for His sheep.
So, today
is ‘Vocations Sunday.’
Everyone
knows what that means,
though
admittedly sometimes hearing
people
speak about their vocations as somehow feeling ‘called,’ can be a little
perplexing, especially if you don’t quite know how to make sense of that kind
of statement.
On the
other hand, you might hear people speak of an experience of love that was
overwhelming and irresistible.
Against
these statements, we encounter – and very frequently – people of tremendous
knowledge and intelligence and rationality, for whom a ‘call’ is too fantastic
and ridiculous to be credible.
Feelings
come and go, and we know that we cannot root our identity in how we feel about
things or people, or even ourselves.
There must be something more, something that can transcend even our
emotions, so that we can depend on it and trust in it, somehow.
So what is
the beauty of a vocation? How can a
‘call’ be irresistible to all kinds of everyone?
I think the
answer must be that when God is calling/ inviting someone to a religious
vocation, He is inviting you to believe in His love not only on an emotional
level, but fundamentally and lastingly on an intellectual level. Like God who is Trinity, He appeals to our
heart, mind, and will – the three are inter-dependent and complementary. He knows us better than we know ourselves and
it is only at His invitation that we can be ‘called.’
So, what is
a vocation?
An
invitation from the Lord of Love – from a Person to a person – a very
particular call, which none but you can respond to. And it is up to you to make the choice – He
won’t force a decision, or you wouldn’t be free.
The
question is, do you have the courage to explore the possibility, or even to
dare to say yes???
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