Today’s Scripture reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans is a powerful reminder that each and every one of us has a calling.
All of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other. Our gifts differ according to the grace given us. If your gift is prophecy, then use it as your faith suggests; if administration, then use it for administration; if teaching, then use it for teaching. Let the preachers deliver sermons, the almsgivers give freely, the officials be diligent, and those who do works of mercy do them cheerfully.
Do not let your love be a pretense, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as sisters and brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.
Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied. (Romans 12:5-16)
A vocation is not just a calling to consecrated life (such as becoming a sister or monk or deacon); a vocation is a calling to each and everyone of us to live our life fully using the gifts that God has given to us and the grace that God continually gives us. Saint Paul gives us some examples (first paragraph) and he also gives us a kind of road map to living fully (second two paragraphs). Listen to some of the key words of this road map:
prefer good to evil … love … have profound respect for people
minister with earnestness of spirit … hope … do not give up
keep praying … share … give hospitality … bless and never curse people
be in solidarity with those who rejoice or are in sorrow
treat everyone with equal kindness … make real friends with the poor
These are some of the dispositions that we can take to heart and in doing so live more fully the life God has blessed us with.
Pick one, just one, of these “landmarks” on the road map and consider how you can take it to heart each moment of this day and into the week.
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Join us for prayer using this readin today at noon Central Time at http://anunslife.org/live. Prayer is still at noon, but because of Daylight Savings Time, it may have changed for you.
Here’s the time in your neck of the woods.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello Sister! My name is Gudalupe, I’m from Argentina. I just wanted to thank you for each word you share in this site. I have read many of your posts but I had never commented, everything you say is so enriching for my soul so thanks again for being such a testimony of Jesus’ love to each of us.
May your heart be overwhelmed with God’s grace.
Guada
(hope my English’s not so bad..
)
Over the last couple of weeks, three of my closest friends have faced the demises of their marriages. There is little I can do to help them other than listen and accompany them on their painful journeys. This is what it means to “be in solidarity with those who rejoice or are in sorrow.” It difficult to be in solidarity when we ourselves do not feel a situation so keenly and even more difficult when we, for instance, do not feel joyful but must draw ourselves out to rejoice with others. Focusing on remaining in solidarity this week, even if I’m not feeling like it, whether in joy or sorrow, is my goal.
Great questions, Sister Julie!
Wonderful post today, Sister Julie! I wonder which translation of Scripture you used. It is so lucid.
Amazing post Sister… I was absent for a while I now think I missed a lot… But I’m trying to catch up now. And today’s post really got to my heart… BEAUTIFUL… And I was thinking ‘Which “landmark· can I choose?’and finally decided I’d choose a difficult one (for me, of course) so I’ll put into practice this week “blessing and never cursing people”
Thanks, once more, for this amazing blog.
My timetables have changes, but as soon as I can, I’ll join you for midday prayer.
Blessings,
Amparo
Susan, Thank you for writing. The thing about solidarity is a difficult one, especially when, as you noted, we don’t feel in the same place as the other person. Reminds of me of the practice of praying the psalms — the psalms express the many different thoughts and feelings that people have — joy, desolation, anger, peace, discouragement, hopefulness. Sometimes the psalm of the day doesn’t “match” how I’m feeling but I’m so conscious that others in the world are feeling those words of the psalm. Helps me to come out of myself so as to be in solidarity. In a way, I think it helps us be more of ourselves when we can reach out in that way.
Barbara, The translation is Jerusalem Bible. I prefer New Revised Standard Version but was struck too with the wording in this translation which is the translation used in my electronic copy of the Liturgy of the Hours — universalis.com.
Amparo, Good to see you! Did you finish up with a semester and start a new one? Hope you are doing well. Blessings!
Nop, I haven’t changed semester, in fact I’m finishing my second semester and very close to the longed summer holidays. The thing is I work giving particular classes to kids who need help to finish their scholar year in a satisfactory way… And this is the month I work the most and have students from 2 in the afternoon on until Mass time at 7. As prayer is a 12 there (14 here) I cant join you unless a student decides not to come… But now that I’m finishing classes I’ll try to join you on Tuesdays and Thursdays (I don’t have students those days cause I had classes from 14 on)
Blessing to you and your sisters!
Thanks Guada! You’re English is great! It is a pleasure to meet you. Blessings.