Fr. Thomas M. Pastorius
April 26, 2015
Spiritual Ponderings
Exploring Vocations

Throughout the month of April, we have been reflecting on the idea of Vocation – receiving a call from God. We have discovered that there are three different levels of meaning behind the word vocation: the first level is the Universal Call to Holiness; the second level is what we refer to when we talk about priesthood, religious life, married life, and single life; and finally the third level refers to our careers (are we a student, doctor or mother.)

In addition to the three levels of vocation, we know there are three stages to each person’s vocation: discernment, probation, and finally oblation (the total giving of oneself to one’s vocation).

We have now turned to an insight from Edward Hahnenberg’s book” The Theology For Ministry: An Introduction to Lay Ministry to look at how God has called people through the Bible and we have come to realize that there are six key aspects to each vocation call. The first being it that it is a call, the second being is that it from God, and third that the Father does this through His Son Jesus Christ. Today we will reflect how each call takes place in the Spirit, with others, and for others. The words from Edward Hahnenberg book will be in bold.

It was the power of the Holy Spirit that allowed the Blessed Virgin Mary to conceive Jesus in her womb. Each and every act of love is like a little annunciation because by our “yes” to God we bring a little bit more love into the world just as Mary did when she cooperated with the graces of the Holy Spirit.

It sounds conceited to say that out loud, but discerning our gifts for ministry begins with dropping a false modesty that hides what time, experience, and other people keep trying to tell us is true.

We are blest by God with many gifts and talents and to some extent our last judgment will depend on how we’ve developed those talents.

In fact, the value of a charism lay not in its power to dazzle, but in its ability to build up the community.

As ministers of the Gospel we are not lone rangers or kamikaze pilots. We are co-workers with Christ. We can do everything right but in the end if we have not helped build up the kingdom of God then we have failed. Jesus sent the twelve out in sets of two. He sent the seventy-two out assets of two. Finally even after He was rose He sent Paul out to preach to the nations only after He had given him Barnabas as a companion.

The Catholic tradition is a communal one. AS the late Fr. Andrew Greely once put it, “Catholics cluster, they bond, they converge, they swarm. Catholicism in James Joyce’s happy phrase means “Here comes everybody!”

As Catholics we accept anyone who truly wants to be Catholic. It does not matter what their race, ethnicity or economic level – all are welcomed.

At the very start, it is helpful to distinguish Christian ministry from Christian discipleship. To be a disciple is literally to be a “learner” or a “listener”. It is to follow the teacher, Jesus. Discipleship begins in baptism. It encompasses the whole of the Christian life. It takes palace within the community called the Church. It entails nothing less than living out the reign of God—a life of loving relationship with God and with other people.
Ministry also flows out of baptism and membership in church community. But it involves something more than living the Christian life. It involves taking up the mission of Jesus. It involves doing something to advance the kingdom of God. Christian ministry is any activity, done on behalf of the church community, that proclaims, celebrates, and serves the reign of God.

God could have chosen angels to call to build up His kingdom; instead He calls us (gives us a vocation). May we do our part so that at the end.

All vocations we are (1) a called (2) by God (3) through Christ (4) In the Spirit (5) with Others, and (6) for Others. .