Vocation to Prophecy

As we continue to read from the Book of Samuel this week, our focus shifts to the call of the prophets, and the Apostles, and simply vocations.  When we think about vocations, we automatically think about priesthood and religious life.  A young man or woman is called by God to serve in the Church in some way, shape, or form.  Actually I am most familiar with the call of Samuel story since it was repeated again and again at every vocation retreat I have ever attended.

For myself I would have loved to have had bright lights, choirs of angels, and heavenly voices pronouncing the path in life that I should choose.  I had thought about the priesthood throughout my pre-teen and through college life.  With this I had considered monastic and religious life.  Sometimes I still believe that I would make a great monk.  But there is lots of prayer and discernment, and discussions with older persons - some ordained and some not.  These are the mentors that are set along every ones path.  We all have Eli's, Elizabeth's and Elijah's in our midst to guide and confirm our choices.

But in the sphere of the Church, and of the cosmos, there is a vocation each of us is called to.  Each of us in our circumstance of life are called to be a spouse, father or mother, grandparent, widow, or a religious.  Deep inside of us a vocation becomes that desire to follow Jesus Christ closely, growing closer in our relationship with God and one another.  And because our gifts are given to us to be shared, we can then, by our call, be part of the revelation of the Kingdom of God.

Whatever our 'vocation' is, it always involves a faith-filled lifestyle, in which we are to speak on matters of faith, seeking justice and peace, enabling reconciliation, being a person who imitates the love of God take place in our lives.  Just as the reverence of God abides in our self, we can and must respond reverently those we come in contact with. 

Just because we are quiet and like to pray, does that mean we should be a monk or nun.  Or because we love being with persons of the opposite gender mean we need to be married.  There is a deeper level by which God calls each of us.  Our pathway is meant to be part of a proclamation of the Kingdom of God.  Our prayer and connection to the sacraments can both lead us and challenge us as to where God is calling us.  Even the Apostles and Prophets had times of confusion and uncertainty.  By saying 'Yes' to God on a daily basis, God will show us the path of life.