Vocations Newsletter

Knowing what God wants of us… that’s the challenge for every person of faith. And I am one of them. Sometimes life tests us more than we would like—and that’s when our relationship with God can change. We’re convinced we have the answers as is “I know what’s best for me, Lord. Are you listening?” Today’s gospel reminds us with a bit of urgency that God’s ways aren’t always our ways. When Jesus foretold his own suffering and death, Peter became agitated and rejected all such talk. Jesus immediately reminded him that he was thinking the way human beings do. Not as God does. Honestly, I have some sympathy for Peter. After all, who among us can think like God? But what Jesus is saying is that God’s plan may be beyond our comprehension. We must have faith that God’s way is always better than our own. Our role is to be open to our special calling, and to serve others with the gifts we were given, especially the gift of salvation in Christ. And that means sharing our hope of eternal life in the face of happiness as well as sorrow. Friend, conforming to the expectations of the modern…
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Peter was absolutely sure. He knew that Jesus is the Christ, Son of the living God. More than 2000 years later, Jesus is asking us the same question: “Who do you say that I am?”If we agree with Peter—and I certainly do—then the choices we make in life will inevitably line up with our Christian faith. In fact, it can’t be otherwise because sharing the joy of our faith is what mission is all about: going out into the world, just as Christ did, to witness God’s love through acts of compassion and charity… always giving more than we think we can… and by our actions, proclaiming salvation in Christ who gave us the gift of eternal life. We proclaim Christ as the Son of God when we do things that seem next to impossible. I think of our heroic first responders and service workers who continue under life-threatening conditions because they are bound by conviction to honor their calling. I think about the example of our fathers and Brothers on the frontlines of care, especially in the pandemic hotspots of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. They are bound by conviction, too—to love and serve the Lord by caring for…
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“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things… nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 Maybe you have been to Mary’s Knoll—the place I call home. Or maybe one day you will visit us. The first place I will take you to is our chapel, Our Lady Queen of the Apostles, where we gather in prayer. Outside the chapel is a dedication plaque embossed with today’s scripture from Isaiah.I love pausing here to remember the role of prayer in our lives. Prayer is our personal lifeline, something as basic—and necessary—as the air we breathe. It’s the centering experience that places us in God’s good care. What then is a house of prayer and where might it be?A house of prayer is certainly our chapel and your parish church. But it can also be inside your heart where you have your deepest conversations with God… the place you share your troubles, ask for help, and give thanks. Inside the heart is where we can also grow as missioners. One of my most fervent prayers as…
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“But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”(Matthew 14:30)Trust. Where does that come from? How do we know we’ll have enough of it when the time comes? Like the apostles, we can find ourselves out on the water when a strong wind comes up. Suddenly we’re frightened. In fact, we’re not sure we’re going to make it. Today’s gospel is a study in placing trust in God, even when we have our doubts. The apostles had set out on the Sea of Galilee to fish, planning to return to shore with their catch. (Life as usual.) But a storm came up and suddenly things turned dangerous. (Also life as usual.) When the apostles caught sight of someone on the water, they panicked until they realized it was Jesus. It was only when the apostles, Peter especially, kept their focus on Him that the storm subsided and they returned safely to shore.In Old Testament stories, the sea symbolized chaos and danger. So Jesus walking on water is a complete reversal—an expression of divine mastery over the universe and an invitation to place our trust in God no…
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