Discernment: Yesterday we looked at the
first of four ways-- “availability and openness, desire, proper motivation and
general disposition”--by which a person would know whether or not he/she is
being called to religious life and/or priesthood, as suggested in a pamphlet entitled
“How will I know? Discerning the call to religious life,” published by the
priests of the Sacred Heart, Hales Corners, WI, 2000. Today we will look at the
second of those four ways, namely, “desire.”
“What do you desire?” is
an important question to ask yourself. Are
you looking for a way out of a difficult situation? Have you just gone through
a devastating breakup and have angrily stated “No way will I ever consider
marriage again”. I’m going to be a priest/a nun?”
What is your motivation?
What is driving you to this decision? Is
it that you feel a strong call to consecrate your life to the Lord? Is it that you hear the Lord calling you to devote
all of your energies to serve the poor of this world, to the task of
evangelization, healing the sick, counseling the mentally ill, educating God’s
little children, working for peace and justice in this world, growing in intimacy
with the Lord, living a life centered on God and on the Gospels? When you think of being a sister/a priest, is
your heart filled with peace and joy; does it feel totally right in your
heart? Are you saying something to yourself
like: “If this is God’s will for me, I
will see it through; I trust that God will show me the way.” Or are the thoughts
floating through your mind nothing like these?
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