Developing a sense of vocation

I BELIEVE that we should arouse in everyone the need to develop a

sense of vocation. I believe that this is something that has to be

pushed consistently nowadays since there is a lot of ignorance and

indifference to this need which is actually basic for all of us.

  

Of course, we have to do it slowly but steadily. Slowly, because the

matter is quite complex and requires a lot of explaining to do.

Besides, we have to know how to present things in such a way that they

get understood and appreciated especially among the young ones whose

mindset, attitudes, culture, etc. are quite different from those of

the previous generations.

  

But, yes, it has to be done steadily, hopefully without let-up, and in

a way that can make use of the usual things people get involved in

nowadays to lead them to develop a sense of vocation.

  

It is indeed a big challenge to face, but one that is all worthwhile.

And we just have to convince ourselves also that we actually have all

the means we need to be able to do the job. Let’s try not to vacillate

from carrying out this duty.

  

We need to define, first of all, what a vocation is. It is a call that

God, our Creator, makes on each one of us who is his creature, created

in his image and likeness, endowed with powers and faculties that

together with his grace would enable us to enter and share in the very

life of our Creator, God.

   

We should never forget that we come from God, and not just from our

parents, and we also belong to him, and not just to our parents, to

anybody else or simply to our own selves.

  

Thus, the mere fact that we exist as a human person already presumes

that we are called by God, that is to say, that God calls us to be

with him, or that we have a vocation.

  

Vocation then has to be understood as having a universal scope. It is

not simply meant for some people who may be inclined to things of

religion and piety. It is for all.

   

But that general universal vocation may still have to be made more

specific. And this is where one has to be more discerning to see what

God is trying to show him. He could remain as a layperson, married or

single, or God may want him to be a cleric or a religious person.

   

And there are many charisms and spiritualities in the Church that one

can choose. But as to which one a person is meant to be or to have, I

imagine that this can be done if one develops a life of prayer, and

makes use of means, like spiritual direction.

  

But the problem now is that hardly anyone feels the need for real

prayer, that intimate conversation with God which should be a result

of a loving desire to deal with God, to look for him, and to really

know, love and serve him. Otherwise, a person will not feel the need

for developing a sense of vocation, or if he feels something in this

regard, it will most likely deceive him.

  

I believe it is important that this matter of developing a sense of

vocation should be worked on even in their childhood stage. Of course,

it has to be done in ways suitable to the condition of the child, but

it should begin at that stage. That way, things become easier and we

can save time and effort when the children grow up and start to wonder

what and how they should be in life.

   

In this regard, it should be made clear that we are dealing with

spiritual and supernatural realities with a lot of mysteries involved,

such that we should pursue this task of developing a sense of vocation

with the proper attitude and skills.

Love makes the difference

THE use of our senses and all our other human powers and faculties

depends on the motive and spirit that drives them. Their quality and

ultimate purpose will also depend on the same motive and spirit.

  

If we would just be motivated by worldly values, then most likely we

can only discern what is effective and beneficial in the persons,

things and situations around us in terms of convenience, practicality,

profitability, popularity, etc., and hardly anything beyond.

  

If we are only or mainly interested, for example, in earthly or

physical beauty, then we can only appreciate colors, shapes and feels

that are pleasant to our eyes and to the other senses and human

faculties we have.

  

Our senses and human faculties are tools and instruments at best, and

they need to be guided and animated properly. They actually just

cannot be left on their own, or left to their own devices, so to

speak, mainly at the mercy of biological, physical, chemical laws, or

some social, political, economic, cultural and historical trends and

conditionings.

Given our innate dignity as persons and children of God, our senses

and faculties need to be animated by the spirit of God no less. And

this can only mean that they have to be guided and driven, in the end

and always, by the theological gifts of faith, hope and charity. We

are not merely animals guided by instincts alone.

  

In this way, our senses and human faculties would not get stuck in the

level of the sensible and the intelligible, but would help us in our

entering into the spiritual and supernatural aspects of our life. We

are meant for this kind of life because of our rational nature that is

spiritual in character and therefore ought to be animated by the

supernatural spirit of God.

  

If we are driven by faith, hope and charity, we, for example, would

get to see and look at persons, things and events differently. We

would not be confined only to appearances and feelings.

  

We would look at things with a higher and nobler purpose and get to

see more than shape, color and size. We would get to see love, even if

things involve suffering. In fact, suffering becomes a clear

touchstone of love. As one love song would put it, “I’ll be looking at

the moon / but I’ll be seeing you.” That’s the difference love makes.

  

This point about love, the real love that comes from God, making a

difference in our life is important and urgently needed for us to

learn nowadays. And that’s simply because we cannot deny that at the

moment we are simply wallowing on shallow, passing and ephemeral

realities, offering us no stability and pledge of eternal life and

happiness that our heart actually is yearning for.

   

Even if things now look exciting and absorbing, they are only passing

realities. They don’t last. Sooner or later, we would get bored by

them, and boredom is a clear sign of the absence of love. With regard

to this, St. Paul already warned us that we who “use the things of

this world should not be dependent on them, for this world in its

present form is passing away.” (1 Cor 7,31)

  

In fact, the more exciting and absorbing they are, the more wary we

should be and more determined to keep our senses and faculties on the

right foundation and orientation.

  

That’s the reason why Christ told us very clearly that if we want to

follow him, we need to deny ourselves and carry the cross. (cfr Mt

16,24) There’s no other formula in life that is proper for us to

follow.

Enhancing our dignity

WE have to realize more deeply that our dignity as a human person and

as a child of God is enhanced to the extent that we manage, with God’s

grace, to live as a family, as a community, as a people and nation,

etc., and all of these along the lines and spirit of communion with

God and with everybody else.

  

This is because as a human person with intelligence and will, we are

meant not only to know but also to love God and others and, in fact,

everything else in the world. We are meant to be connected with each

other and to live as an organic community. We are not just individual

persons. We are meant to be with others, with God as the first other.

  

And as a child of God, created in God’s image and likeness and

redeemed by Christ, we have to reflect the innermost inter-trinitarian

life of God, and the unity and love between Christ and the Father and

the Spirit.

  

Every opportunity we have to live community life, starting with our

family, and then our relatives and friends, our classmates, and the

many other aggrupations we get involved in, is an invitation for us to

grow and develop our dignity as a human person and as a child of God

to its fullness.

  

We have to be more aware of this fundamental truth about ourselves,

and to start taking serious action to conform ourselves to it. We can

start with our family life, seeing to it that we do everything to make

that aspect of our life really vibrant and meaningful.

  

Let’s not forget that it is in the family, the basic unit of society,

that everyone of us starts to develop both as an individual and a

social person. From there we are supposed to learn how to relate

ourselves to God and everybody else.

  

But, alas, can we truly affirm that the family nowadays is as it

should be? Unfortunately, I have been observing many families today

having unhealthy conditions. There is hardly any good family life.

  

Many husband-and-wife relationships as well as parents-children

relationships are tenuous. And among children, the spirit of

fraternity is hardly felt. There is a lot of cases of isolation and

fragmentation.

  

We really have to look into how we can make the family a strong and

cheerful one, animated by the right spirit of love that comes from

God.

  

In this regard, I was happy to read in Pope Francis “Gaudete et

exsultate” a strong affirmation of how we need to develop a life in

community and in communion with God and others in the different levels

of our life.

   

Here are some relevant words of his: “When we live apart from others,

it is very difficult to fight against concupiscence, the snares and

temptations of the devil and the selfishness of the world. Bombarded

as we are by so many enticements, we can grow too isolated, lose our

sense of reality and inner clarity, and easily succumb.

  

“Growth in holiness is a journey in community, side by side with

others…A community that cherishes the little details of love, whose

members care for one another and create an open and evangelizing

environment, is a place where the risen Lord is present, sanctifying

it in accordance with the Father’s plan…” (140 ff.)

  

It’s worthwhile taking note that by creating a community among

ourselves, we make God present in our lives and enhance our dignity as

human persons and children of God.

  

We sometimes think that to be with God is to experience some

extraordinary phenomena, when we can have God right where we are,

inside each one of us, and among ourselves and around us! We don’t

have to look far and to go far to have God.