Here is link to our readings for the day: http://usccb.org/bible/readings/061720.cfm
Your Vocation
Everyone has a vocation. We spend a great amount of time trying to discern what our vocation is. We agonize over it. We research options. We make tables of likes and dislikes. Wouldn’t it be great to be like Elisha in the first reading? If you see Elijah taken up to heaven, then you will have a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Elisha knew what his vocation would be.
Well, we are not like Elisha. Or maybe we are. It depends on how you understand the word vocation in relation to the spirit. If we are thinking of a vocation in only secular terms, we will be disappointed. The general understanding of vocation is a strong impulse or inclination to follow a particular career. This raises the question, so what do I really like? What am I really good at? Thinking of questions such as these can only produce stress and anxiety. We tell ourselves that if I make the wrong decision my life is ruined! Oh my goodness, we burden ourselves so terribly. This is not what God intended. Let me explain.
First, God intended that He be our vocation. No, this does not mean we are all supposed to be priests and nuns. He did not make us all to be priests or nuns. He made us the way we are because He loves us. And He wants us to be the best human being we can be. That means our vocation is God. How we best serve Him and follow His Will. Turning to God in prayer with our problems, questions, and challenges. Trusting in Got to help us follow His Will.
Second, we all need to have an avocation. No, that is not a misprint, there is an “a” in front of the word vocation. Our avocation is our occupation, our calling of how to support our desired activities and families in this life. It is important that we get these terms in the right order. God is our vocation. Our work is our avocation. By focusing on God, we take the pressure off our decision of what we are to do. Being centered on God means listening to His direction for our lives. Having that relationship with Jesus, His Son, we never have to worry about changing our vocation but can accept the change to our avocation when and if that should ever happen. Take some time now to reorder your life. Spend time now in prayer talking this through with God.
May the Lord bless you, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Fr Ed Anderson
Email: fatheredanderson[at]gmail.com
Phone: 715.817.3736
St. Joseph Church – Rice Lake
Holy Trinity – Haugen
St. John the Evangelist – Birchwood
Our Lady of Lourdes – Dobie
