Vocations Newsletter

Reaching the fullness of life… isn’t that what we all want? Not in a material sense but in a deeply spiritual way—by relieving a hurt, eliminating some past guilt, or just finding a new direction that’s centered on doing good and witnessing God’s love. Fortunately, we have a way. It’s called Lent and the possibility of second chances.This Wednesday we observe the ritual of the ashes and the beginning of Lent. We know the ashes are a reminder of our mortality, and Lent a time of denial. But I prefer to think of these sacred traditions as something more… a chance to start over and realize our full potential as sons and daughters of the Lord destined for eternal life.So rather than focus on giving something up, how about focusing on something you can affirm—perhaps a relationship that means a lot to you but needs a little work. Is there some small thing you can say or do? An act of kindness that could help?Lent is an opportunity to witness the Gospel with conviction because we are preparing to spend all eternity with our God. It’s a time to lighten our burdens and find comfort in our faith.Friend, I will…
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Today’s Gospel is a lesson in wisdom. There is God’s way—the mysteries we may never understand in this life. And then there is our way—the very human tendency to rely on our own instincts and see just what we want to see.Figuring out the difference doesn’t come from living longer or believing we’re smarter. It comes from knowing that God’s way is beyond us, and that trust in God is the way we draw closer to the mystery of our faith.Jesus is asking us to seek wisdom with the eyes of the innocent—the children, the marginalized, the vulnerable—the people who do not hold positions that society regards as important. But we know that each person is valuable in God’s eyes because each is a unique expression of life worthy of inheriting the Kingdom. These are the exact messages I hear from our Maryknoll missioners serving overseas… that ministering to the sick, the mentally ill, and the poor is how the Gospel gets lived today, allowing God’s presence to be the wind beneath our wings.Friend, as missioners we know that God’s ways are always better than our own. That’s because each person is destined for eternity though salvation in Christ. May…
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“Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory.”~ Psalm 24:8~ Psalm 24:8Today the psalmist is asking us to open our portals wide and let the king of glory enter our hearts. Not just when we hear Mass or say the rosary. But all the time. Sometimes we have the impression that to find God we need to get outside of daily living. Not so. In fact, just the opposite. God is present everywhere… amidst struggles and joys, with family and at the office, when we’re on the phone or catching the bus. Each interaction is a chance to witness God’s presence and share a sign of peace.Today’s Gospel, recounting the Presentation of the Christ Child in the temple, is an apt lesson in stewardship of the soul. Simeon was a devout man who throughout his long life had worshipped often at the temple. He was known among the people for his righteousness and love of the Lord. That is how he lived his life. According to Luke, the Holy Spirit visited Simeon and told this man of God that he would not see death before his eyes had seen the Christ of…
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“They were in a boat, with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.”Matthew Chapter 4, verse 21How spontaneous are you? Do you look for challenges? We can only admire the apostles James and John who had the heart-stopping courage to leave their comfort zone as fishermen and take up a new calling. “Come after me,” said the preacher from Galilee, “and I will make you fishers of men.”Today’s Gospel is a remarkable lesson in commitment and renewal. I know, it’s only the fourth Sunday of a new year and resolutions are still fresh in our minds. But it’s still a good time for us to ask: What are we willing to commit ourselves to as believers? And do we believe we can live up to our commitments?When James and John left their nets to follow Jesus, they modeled a kind of radical shift that not only changed their thinking, but the way they lived. In fact, their zeal was so great, Jesus gave them the nickname of Boanerges, meaning “Sons of Thunder.”Friend, we don’t have to announce our faith to the world with rolling thunder. But…
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