May the joy of the Risen Christ fill your hearts!
This weekend is not only Good Shepherd Sunday, it is also the World Day of Prayer for Vocations!
All who have become members of the Body of Christ have an inherent desire to seek God in prayer. Prayer should have a place of priority in a Christian’s life. A Christian should pray every day at least 3 times a day: in the morning, at mid- day and at night. Just like the meals that health professionals recommend, prayer is a kind of food that every soul must have for the nourishment of the spiritual life which ensures joy and peace through an intimate relationship with God. The body cannot live without eating or breathing, the soul languishes without prayer! Mothers have a special role in family life. Like Our Blessed Mother Mary, mothers show their children the way to Jesus and how to pray to God from the heart. Fathers have an extremely important role in the family as spiritual leaders. They give strength and firmness by modeling prayer and the Christian virtues. One important mode of prayer is listening to God with the ear of the heart. Mothers and fathers need to pray together and teach their children how to listen to God and be guided by him.
We believe that each one of us is singularly and uniquely gifted by God and because of that, God has a special plan and vocation for every individual and a way for them to use their gifts and talents for the benefit of others. This activity is directed toward the building up of God’s kingdom. Some of us are called to serve God in special ways through marriage vows, vows of religious profession, live singly or be ordained for service. Rising from vocations, there is also ministry. Many of the members of the community of St. Edward are active in ministries of caring for the sick, feeding the hungry, proclaiming the Word or serving Communion, Hospitality and various other efforts that make a difference in people’s lives. These are all good and important activities but there are more ways to be active! If you feel like doing something radical, try completely committing your life forever to Christ and follow the way he leads you! Many men and women in the Catholic tradition have responded to God’s call and have made the total commitment to sacrifice their lives in service to the Christian community and the needs of the human race. In their vows of poverty, simplicity, chastity and obedience, they have put on Christ in a powerful and wonderful way! Some are called to be priests, some are members of religious communities, some are deacons, some live and work quietly among us as consecrated virgins while others are called to marriage. Jesus is the Good Shepherd of souls, are you willing to follow where ever he leads you? Say “Yes” today and every day! Mother Mary did!
God bless you all! +++ Fr. Peter