DISCERNMENT: PSALM
23—REFLECTION II
Ps. 23 tells
us that, with God as our Shepherd, we need not fear anything, not even the
“dark valley.” Following God’s call to
priesthood or religious life may seem like encountering a “dark valley.” You
might be asking yourself such questions as: What will it be like to enter the seminary, to
leave my parents, my siblings, my friends, my dream of having an ideal family,
finding the love of my life, abandoning a successful career
as_______________________. Will the things
that light up my life now still be a part of my life as a seminarian, a
postulant, a novice, a professed member of a religious community? Will I be able to give up those things? Will
I be able to live without them and still be happy?
Imagine
yourself meeting the man/woman of your dreams.
All that matters to you now is building a life together with that
person. Fear of the “dark valley” does
not enter your mind. You have each other, love each other, trust each other,
believe in each other. Those of you called to become women/men religious,
priests of God, the One persistently calling you to the priesthood or to
religious life is the Lord Himself. He believes in you, loves you, trusts you,
wants, above all, that you be His partner for life.
Those of us
who have answered the call did so because the Person to whom we committed our
lives and who chose us is the Lord, the one who called Mary’s name at the empty
tomb, the one who, through the angel Gabriel called Mary to be His Mother and
said to her “Be not afraid. You have found favor with God.” The One
persistently calling you is saying the same thing to you. As the psalmist says
in Psalm 23, He is “at your side…With…[His]rod and…[His] staff that give …[you]
courage.”
What is
blocking that courage? Who is challenging your resolve? Talk to the Lord about
the answer to both of those questions and seek His advice!
