National Vocation Awareness Week
Henri David Thoreau’s observation that “most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them, ” might well be applied to the unrealized vocations to the priesthood or religious life.
God’s call is like a song that may easily go unheard amidst the clatter and chaos of today’s world where we are constantly lured by the siren songs of materialism and self-gratification. Sacrifice, service to God and the world, and commitment are not valued by our society the way they have been in the past.
It is up to those of us who recognize such values to work to instill them in our children and those whom we mentor. We do not do so by talking about sacrifice and service to God, we do so by demonstrating those values in our own lives.
Most priests and religious will tell you how the example of an individual or a group of people was influential in leading them to their vocation.
We as priests must demonstrate the joy of serving Jesus through his people, his Body, the Church. As parents and teachers we must strive to “tune them in” to God’s song in their hearts.
During National Vocation Awareness Week beginning January 9, we are not only reminded of the need for priests and religious, but of the richness of lives of service and commitment to God and the community. We are also reminded of our individual obligation to nurture vocations in our children and to support the vocations of our priests and religious.
Promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life is not solely the job of the Diocesan Vocations Office, but the responsibility of each one of us.
As the old saying goes: “If not now, when? If not you, who?”