“The Lord’s call is not an intrusion of God in our freedom; it is not a ‘cage’ or a burden to be borne. On the contrary, it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great undertaking. He opens before our eyes the horizon of a greater sea and an abundant catch.”
These words from Pope Francis came to my mind when I received a video call from Fr. Joachim to show me the near completion of St. Mary’s School in Uganda. “I cannot thank you enough,” Fr. Joachim told me, “for the help that you and your parishioners gave us. The classrooms are almost finished and furnished, and we were able to buy new beddings for our stay-in students.”
As I looked at the newly plastered and painted buildings and the smiling children on the video, my heart jumped with joy. The money that we raised for this cause was well spent. And all our efforts to raise funds bear fruits. Indeed. It feels good to help people in dire need, especially impoverished children.
Accomplishments like this one inspire me to keep doing good for others and inviting people to join in any efforts to alleviate their suffering and poverty.
Thank you so much to my parishioners and friends for their contribution to this project. We all did it together. And together we can do more!
This Sunday’s (January 30) Scripture Readings appropriately help us relish this accomplishment, for they speak about vocation.
Vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means to call. We all have received the call to a greater purpose and mission in life. And as Christians, our call stems from our baptism.
Jeremiah received God’s call to be a prophet even before his birth, as the First Reading tells us:
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you,a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”
As in Jeremiah’s case, God did not only give us life; he also made us for a purpose and mission to give life to others.
Again, as Pope Francis reminds us, God looks on the human heart that can give and generate life amid daily routines. He states:
“Vocations have this same goal: to beget and renew lives every day. The Lord desires to shape the hearts of fathers and mothers: hearts that are open, capable of great initiatives, generous in self-giving, compassionate in comforting anxieties, and steadfast in strengthening hopes. The priesthood and the consecrated life greatly need these qualities nowadays, in times marked by fragility but also by the sufferings due to the pandemic, which has spawned uncertainties and fears about the future and the very meaning of life.”
Yes, my friends, God never stops calling us to bring life to others even amid challenging times and despite our struggles. No illness or disaster should prevent us from thinking about the needs of others. And no criticisms or discouragement from others would stop us from answering God’s call.
It’s because God’s call is rooted in love, the most significant spiritual gift, and in the Person of Jesus Christ who gave his life to save us all!
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
