Myriad Callings One Purpose
My Dear Parish,
Over the course of these weeks, we have been focusing on the theme of vocations, both the big and small calls that God places on our hearts, invitations to follow where he leads. Responding with a whole-hearted “Yes!” often requires surrender, a commitment without seeing too far ahead. For example, the vows a couple professes on their wedding day encompass the broad gamut of life: “for better or for worse… in sickness and in health… I will be faithful to you all the days of my life!” Similarly, the priest’s sacred promises of obedience, chastity and simplicity of life, are made to the bishop and to his successors. The bishop receives the vows as the head of the local church, while also representing the whole church for whom the priest is being set aside in a sacred consecration. Both sets of vows are life-long, made in trust and faith.
Last week we had the good fortune to welcome your new pastor, Fr. Fernando Monsalve, at the Masses on Sunday. He preached about vocations and motherhood and not being afraid to say yes, since we have an Advocate, the Holy Spirit, by our side. He shared about what saying yes to God has meant for him in his life. This weekend, we welcome Fr. Chris Colavita, Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Trenton. We look forward to hearing him share part of his vocation journey and how the priesthood has shaped his life. Many of you have also heard parts of my own vocation story, and you may know other stories of the different ways God calls people to serve.
What fascinates me is the variety of paths that God uses in his priesthood. He chooses mathematicians and poets, doctors and lawyers, engineers, and meteorologists for his priests. Men from all walks of life. God’s call is personal and unique, mysterious, and unpredictable.
Each vocation story is like looking upon a fingerprint, the touch of God on a human life with the invitation to deeper friendship and communion. And each face of the priesthood, when lived with fidelity and conviction, is meant to reflect the divine, yet each unique and unrepeatable. The same is true for all vocations! When we conceive of the wide array of the saints, the image of an unkempt field of wildflowers is more accurate than a tightly groomed English garden.
Despite the wide array, we can perceive one common purpose: to spread the Good News, to be a sign of God’s love in the world. Today in our Gospel, Jesus ascends to the Father, while also commissioning the disciples to “make disciples of all the nations!” It is a big ask, but he promises to be with them, present in his Spirit. In this moment, the disciples “worshiped, but they doubted.” Great hay has been made over how to read this line. Was it that some believed while others doubted, or was everyone of mixed heart? I think we can take it both ways, at various times in our own lives. We recognize some whose faith is strong while others struggle, but we can also see present in each faith journey times of apprehension and doubt. I have been experiencing some trepidation and anxiety about the upcoming change, while also receiving consolation in the presence of the Holy Spirit. These are beautiful days to practice surrender and acceptance.
What is unmistakable, however, is that this call to spread the faith to all the nations is for ALL of us! It is the responsibility and privilege of the whole Church. And it will require the “yes” of each member of the Church to reach fulfillment, a movement of increasing strength toward discipleship with passion and conviction. What call is God placing on your heart?
In faith and trust,
Fr. Joel
