Vocations Newsletter

Time to take stock. In just a couple of weeks, we begin a new liturgical year. But before then, we have a little work to do.Rather than think about a literal “end of the world”—the images in today’s readings—let’s think instead about the fulfillment of God’s reign on earth, something each of us can contribute to because we are all missioners. The world we hope to end is one of darkness and disillusion. The world we want to create is built on God’s eternal love and the promise of salvation that we are gifted in the Christ Child.From this perspective, preparing for the arrival of the Son of Man becomes a more hopeful kind of challenge. So I suggest taking the time between now and the beginning of Advent to see where God in your life right now. How do you reflect the joy of our faith at home? At work? In your neighborhood? In your parish? How much time are you making for prayer and self-reflection? Where God is absent, how are you being called to make the Lord’s presence known?Friend, as Advent approaches, now is a good time for an examination of conscience—a checklist for the soul that…
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“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.” ~ Mark 12:43-44Everyone has something to give, so the saying goes—whether in wealth, talent, or time. Today’s Gospel, the story of the widow’s mite, is a great lesson in giving—but not so much from abundance as from poverty. The widow who had little to give made her contribution in the temple as the wealthy were making theirs. Her gesture was very modest—just two coins probably worth pennies—and accomplished without calling any attention to herself. But Jesus noticed her modesty and compared it to some of the wealthy who liked to give as a way of impressing others—and giving away only what they really didn’t need in the first place. When Jesus addressed his disciples, he had another kind of giving in mind. He talked about giving from a place of challenge or even deficit… giving out of concern for someone else’s well-being or just because the greater good is more important than our own. That was the widow in…
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Mark’s Gospel today is a journey into the simplicity of a life well lived: Love God with your whole heart, soul, and strength; then love your neighbor as yourself. As Jesus reminds us, there is no other commandment above these. When a scribe confirmed that these two commandments are even greater than burnt offerings and sacrifices, Jesus saw that the man understood the meaning of God’s reign. In response he told the scribe, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”—an observation we would surely want to claim for ourselves. But it’s Mark’s final words that give us pause: “And no one dared to ask him any more questions.” What were the others afraid of? These were undoubtedly learned men schooled in Mosaic Law. Asking and answering questions of one another would have been commonplace. We can’t know for sure why the scribes felt threatened—and then fell silent. But I can say that in any relationship of value, asking questions is not only good but necessary. If one of us had been standing among the scribes that day, these are the questions we might have asked Jesus: • How can I build God’s reign on earth? • What can…
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Transforming the world may sound like a tall order for just one person. But imagine the good that can happen when each of us takes on the role of missioner and proclaims the joy of our faith. That’s what we celebrate today on World Mission Sunday: the good we have accomplished… and the good yet to be.Our calling in baptism is to go beyond our personal boundaries and engage with people and communities at all levels. Our gift of faith is precious. How can we not share it! The story of Bartemaeus in today’s Gospel is a good example of the power of faith—and the spirit of mission.Jesus encountered Bartemaeus on the road home from Jericho. A blind man, anxious to be healed, Bartemaeus repeatedly called for Jesus, probably disturbing the crowd that had gathered to hear Jesus preach. But Our Lord acknowledged Bartemaeus and rewarded his faith by restoring his vision. For present-day missioners, the eyes of faith are a window to the soul. Like Bartemaeus, we believe because we have experienced God’s love in deep and intimate ways.In proclaiming today World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis, too, is as overwhelmed as Bartemaeus, by the goodness of God. This is…
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