What is it today that provokes you to think of your future, or where God may now be leading you?
It is said that the greatest challenge in life is to realise one's ideal. Often the longest of journeys begins nonetheless with a small step. The question "how do I know" is one, which you will have to grapple with, as others before you have had to do. Is the vocation a whisper in the night, a call in the day, an overpowering word? Mostly though it is a slow decision which may have some key-moments when you do feel very definitely called by God and Christ in this way. It is all a search to know what God wants of you in your life and this is found more in the internal moods and responses of your prayer and faith than in external dramatic callings.
Meditation on Vocation.
What does it really mean?
I know it means a calling an invitation
from one person to another.
Something heard?
Touched? Felt? Seen?
A dramatic experience like Paul's vocation on the road-
something like being struck off your bike at the lights?
so that when they turn green you go a way that you never expected,
going home by a different road.
Who calls you?
Was it at night? Or in the noontime?
Winter? Spring? Summer? Fall?
Yes!
All of these times
and none of these times.
When did the apple grow on the tree?
When did the daffodil sprout petals?
When did Jack and Jill fall in love?
Life's most shattering and outreaching discoveries
rooted in mysterious meetings and greeting of half- remembered
past words and loves and attractions
grow and sprout and fall into place
only slowly, perhaps painfully, peacefully.
The whispered prayers of father and mother, the affection of
the home, the word and gentle encouragement of a priest,
a gradual experience that God is the centre of the universe and a
hopeful glimpse that Jesus is alive and loves me, a hope and a faith
that the world could be a better place and a conviction that I must
do something about it.
All these seeds of a vocation
seed-bearing fruit,
petal-bearing stem
falling in love.
All of these times, all of these experiences
fingered with the friendship of God
gently though painfully
soundless voice
whispering in the loving words of another
coaxing with attraction of gospel and peace
pleading with the needs of the world's people
challenging to take place in the ranks of good men
and women
" Come
follow me. "
The Call of Jesus
These are stories of God's calling of people in the gospel. Allow yourself be reached and touched through them. They are invitations to be open to the calling of Jesus, no matter where the journey with him may lead. They can be the perspective for prayer when you are feeling some of the pressures which may close you or close in on you when you think over your decision.
Luke 1: 26-38
The call of God and his love for Mary…. Her openness to do what God wants of her.
Luke 19: 1-10
A call to change one's life completely and welcome Jesus into your life.
Mark 10: 17-22
The challenging call of Jesus "who loved him" to a radical following of him. The young man is attracted but can't say " Yes ". He goes away sad.
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