Monday, August 27, 2007

IF YOU EXIST, PRESUME GOD LOVES YOU

If you have a beautiful voice, presume God wants you to sing. If you are teacher, presume God wants you to teach. Use you gifts in service of others.” (Author unknown to me, but told to be by Mrs. P)

People want burning bushes. Burning bushes are rare. What is it that God wants you to do to build up humanity and give glory to Him? You have thousands of clues in your life already. Maybe part of your discernment of God’s will in your life is finding out the gifts with which He has blessed you.

If you can pray, assume God wants you to pray for others. If you are artistic, assume God want you to inspire others with your gifts.

Not everybody is called to be a missionary. Not everyone is called to be married. The Church needs electricians as well as organists. How are you going to live your vocation so that you give glory to God and lead others to Him?

If you can inspire by the written word, assume God wants you to write (or blog). If you have the capacity to heal, assume God wants you to heal.

Sometimes God gives us multiple opportunities. Once I met a lady who received her acceptance letter to a religious order on the same day that a man proposed to her. Both were goods, both were things she felt called to, both were holy vocations. Sometimes there is simply a choice and once we choose we give it our all and don’t look back.

If your talent seems small, assume God will do something bigger with it than you will ever realize. If life continually leads you away from your strengths, assume God is trying to stretch you for something greater.

Yesterday afforded the opportunity to spend some time with a number of our seminarians. Bowing to an inner conviction and accepting the call of the Church they move steadily on toward the priesthood. Have no fear men. Presume God is calling you and be faithful, obedient, and holy.
Readers, please pray for them and for all seminarians.

6 comments:

Habemus Papam said...

Heard you kicked some butt in corn hole! Nicely done!!!

Anonymous said...

To add to your last statement, I would ask everyone to pray for those discerning a priestly or religious vocation.
Great post. I think we all need to be reminded to use the gifts and talents God gave us, to serve Him. What a great way to show our love for Him.

Anonymous said...

I'm always so delighted to pray for seminarians. Thanks for entrusting that precious task to us.

JustMe

paramedicgirl said...

Father you make it sound so easy to do what God is calling us to do. For some, they seem to spend forever trying to figure out their true calling.

I do pray for vocations. It's part of my daily rosary intentions, and I cuurenttly pray specifically for sixteen men who I know are discerning vocations or are already in the seminary.

Fr. V said...

Paramedicgirl,

It's always easier to stand on the outside and say, "Well, this is the way to do it!" Hence the beauty (and dnager)of community.

Thanks for the word.

Anonymous said...

Great post. Play to your strengths rather than fret about your weaknesses. It reminds me of the finding the right fit discussions from
The 5 Patterns of Extraordinary Careers
. It's also helpful advice when developing volunteers.