Facing Hardship when Making a Life Choice or any Choice that is Right for You

Like Jesus, Paul, in the liturgy’s first reading, Acts 20: 17-27, is looking back on his life as well and is about to go to Jerusalem, where, like Jesus, he faces hardships and imprisonment." He says to us: "I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace.”

You, like  Paul and Jesus, have been given a task to do here on earth within a vocational call:  married,  single, a member of a religious community or as a diocesan priest.  Both Paul and Jesus were called to do the work the Father gave Him to do as single persons. Most of the apostles were given a work to do as married men but also as apostles.  In which vocation is God calling you "to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace"? 

Both Paul and Jesus learned obedience from what they suffered (cf. Hebrews 5:8). Like Paul and Jesus, as we bring our wills into harmony with God’s will for us, as we give glory to God by  the Gospel values we embrace,  we will meet hardship, be mocked and ridiculed. We will, from time to time, be rejected on account of our beliefs, our choices, or confidence in what the Lord God, what Christ Jesus, is asking of us through the Spirit.  Some persons  are likely not to understand our choices and may object loudly while others may be supportive. 

When you are ridiculed, made fun of, questioned  about the vocation in life that is right for you, the partner in life that is right for you,  the religious community that is right for you; yes, the career choice that is right for you,  do you run away from that choice so as not to rock the boat, to avoid suffering?

Vocational Choice

In Ephesians 4: 1-4, Paul exhorts us to “lead a life worthy of your vocation.”  And in today’s first reading, Ephesians 4: 9-13, he says to us: “…we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God until we become the perfect person, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.” 

In considering one’s choice of a vocation in life—marriage, religious life, priesthood or the single life—in which do you believe you will more likely grow “fully mature with the fullness of Christ Himself”?  Would that be with a partner as in marriage, “falling in love,” giving one’s life selflessly to one another, bearing with one another’s burdens  charitably,  in “gentleness and patience,” striving  to “preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds” married couples together (cf Eph 4: 1-4).? Would it be as a single person, charitably sharing your talents and energy selflessly, in gentleness and patience through your chosen career and through parish involvement? Or would it be as a woman/man religious, building the Kingdom through the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and being involved in ministries of a religious community wherever  and to whomever you are sent and in living charitably, gently, patiently in community with other persons? Or would it be as a diocesan priest, living selflessly for the sake of your parishioners? 

As you read this, did you hear a little voice within you say: “Oh, no. I could never do that?”  Or did you feel the Spirit nudging you: “This is the vocation to which I am being called!” Or, “yes, that is  where I believe I will truly grow in maturity in Christ Jesus.” Or did a small voice within you say: “Yes, I need a partner throughout life to whom I give my all and who gives his/her all to me unreservedly until death do us part.”  Or did you hear: “Yes, I want to be a priest.” “Yes, I want to live in community; I want to vow poverty, chastity, and obedience.”  “Yes, I believe I can live in community with other women (if male, with other men) and grow to maturity by the demands of community living, being sent on mission, being obedient to a religious leader, living a vow of poverty and chastity.”

Pay attention to your inner voice!

DISCERNMENT OF GOD'S WILL

DISCERNMENT OF GOD’S WILL

 Are you wondering to which vocation God is calling you? Is it marriage; and, if so, how do I find my future husband/wife?  Am I being called to consecrate my life to God; and, if so, to which religious community?  Could I being called to the single lifestyle? How do I find answers to those questions? First of all, I need to go to God.  I need to be seeking God’s will, not mine. Sincerely, I need to say to God: “Not my will, but yours be done.”  Then I need to say: “Here I am, Lord; I am coming to do your will. Show me. Open my eyes to see, my ears to hear and my will to follow.” Sit in the stillness and be attentive to the Spirit praying within you.  When you mine wanders, come back to  gently to listening (use the word “Jesus”).  Do this for 3-5 minutes every day.

If you feel called to marry, ask the Lord to put you in touch with your future spouse and to give you the courage to search for the right person. If you feel called to religious life, search the web. Study the charisms of different religious community, attend their Come and See programs or arrange for a discernment session with the vocation director (this could be a day retreat or several days of retreat.

If you feel called to the single lifestyle, ask the Lord to reveal this gift to you and to fill your heart with peace, if that is the vocation to which you are called.