Divine Vocation

 

Preaching on Call of God/Vocation

By Fr. Gulsan Ekka

Date 03.07.2021

 

Introduction:

Today we will reflect upon Religious Vocation. First of all before we reflect upon the topic lets accept that we are the children of God. As it is said  though we come through our parents but we are of God. We each one of us are sent into this world with a specific purpose. Therefore you and I am unique. The way I think, the way I talk, the way I behave fully differs from every second person in front of me. Now as a mature human being let's not fence our knowledge, our qualities, abilities only for our family, relatives, and friends but use them for the world. Because there is no second person like you. The work which is assigned to you has to be fulfilled only through you.

Point to reflect:

Why Did God Send Me To This World?

 

Religious Vocation:

The word Vocation  comes from the Latin "Vox" meaning voice. We are speaking of divine vocation; it is the voice of God calling. what is the meaning of call? To say something loudly or to shout in order to attract attention. In this materialistic world, where people tend to live only for themselves, enjoy the life and accumulate things for future, God has attracted your attention towards Him. Devine Vocation is a gift of God. Jesus says " You did not choose me; it was I who chose you" (Jn 15:16)  God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him. (Eph 4:1) He calls and we respond to his call.

1. God's call and responses in the Old Testament

1.0.Who is the Father of Faith: Abraham: (Keep in mind every vocation has a mission to fulfill, there are challenges, limitation of the one called by God and God is there to help them out.)

1. 1. The Call of Abram

          1.2. The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people   and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

                ² “I will make you into a great nation,
           and I will bless you;
          I will make your name great,
          and you will be a blessing.
                ³ I will bless those who bless you,
          and whoever curses you I will curse;
          and all peoples on earth
          will be blessed through you.”

                ⁴ So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.

1.2. The call of Moses

Mission: To free Israelite from Egyptians

Moses sees the burning bush and goes close to it. As he reaches God assigns him a task to free Israelites from the slavery of Egyptians. God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, `The LORD, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has sent me to you.

Limitation. Then Moses said to the LORD, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” God said your brother Aaron will be with you. You will speak what I command you. God was with Him always.

His mission was not so easy task to fulfill.

1.3. The Call of Jeremiah 1: 4-10

                ⁴ The word of the Lord came to me, saying,

                ⁵ “Before I formed you in the womb I knew  you,
           before you were born I set you apart;
          I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

(Excuses from Jeremiah) ⁶ “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”

⁷ But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

God assures his help ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord.

God fulfills his promise  ⁹ Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

2. Call and response From the New Testament

          2. 1. Call of Mother Mary: to be the Mother of Jesus

At first she was reluctant to respond to her call, she asked How is it possible I am not yet married. But later on;

·        She was ready to accept all the challenges to fulfil the call of God,

·        She has to no place to give birth to her child,

·        she had to flee from one place to another to safe guard the child.

·        She had to see her son's death. it was not an easy task for her to do.

           2.2. Call of John the Baptist:

To Prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He said repent for your sins. Correcting all the sinners to live a good life. He stood for the truth. and for the truth he gave his life.

          2.3. Call of St. Matthew: He was a tax collector became evangelist.

          2.4. Call of St. Paul: Paul : St. Paul was more than a prophet. His calling by the Lord ordained him to be a missionary to the new people of God.

And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. Read the Conversion and mission of St Paul when you are free.

3. Every vocation requires a personal response:

Every vocation is a personal call and requires a personal response. as Viktor Frankl says, " everyone has his/her own specific vocation or mission in life, and everyone must carry out a concrete assignment that demands fulfillment. Therein he/she cannot be replaced, nor can his/her life be repeated. Thus, everyone's task is unique."  as I was telling in the introduction we are unique so also our vocation and mission is unique.

Therefore vocation is personal. We each one need to respond to the call personally. God proposes his project to an individual He has chosen. He only proposes and does not ordinarily impose. He gives us freedom whether to accept or reject His call. However, if you reject His proposal, you reject what is best for you.

4. How can I respond a call everyday in my life?

4.1. Discernment:

How do you discern your vocation? ask the Lord every day, Lord what are you asking me to do with my life. If you are unable to discern your vocation people are around you to guide you to let you know about your call. For example

Call of Samuel: Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ... So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.'” Here we see Samuel a young boy has not known the Lord but Eli helped him to recognise the call of God.

Similarly your authorities over here are your immediate guide. Share with them and find help through them.

4.2. Detachment from the worldly way of life:

You have responded the call of God therefore you have to detach yourselves from the world, follow the teaching of Jesus and live as your congregation demands.  

4.3. Prayer: ( calling upon God in prayer) Example: (Builder calling a civil engineer)  Though God calls us for a purpose, we are unable to respond to that call without his help. We cannot rely on our own wisdom, strength or ability. We have to depend on Him. Therefore our response to the vocation necessarily includes our prayer.

Conclusion:

The aim to live a religious life should be to do the will of God , to live for the love of humanity and to draw close to Him. The decision to enter a state of life should be made in light of this aim, and in the presence of Christ, in prayer. However, normally God’s will is not immediately manifested to us, therefore keep on praying discerning your vocation asking the Lord what are you asking me to do with my life. You may have our own limitations, weaknesses but God has called you for a specific purpose. May God bless you to be holy and blameless before Him. Amen.