Listen to this story:
By Raj Vijayakumar, SJ
The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare, meaning to call. God calls each of us in some way to labour for the building up of the kingdom, the body of Christ in this world. Each one of us is called to build up the Kingdom, whether it be with our kids, our neighbours, or in the little corner of our office that God has entrusted to us.
But how do we find our calling? What are some of the obstacles that may come up for one who is genuinely searching for God’s will in the living out of his or her life? In this short reflection I will use the Gospels and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius to point to an answer, using three important qualities: attention to the goal, freedom from attachments, and love for Christ.
The first element in helping us discover our vocation is to become aware of the goal. Ignatius of Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises points out that in deciding how to live our life, we ought “to aim first at desiring to serve God, which is the end” (SpEx 169). If we are setting out to sea, presumably we would have a sense of where we are going. If our goal is to go to Italy and we live in Toronto, then we would not begin our voyage, say, from British Columbia. The goal affects the whole trip! Likewise, in discerning our call, placing God front and centre is essential. The goal would not be to become a nurse, for example. Rather, the goal would be to serve God, and then to ask whether nursing would be the best way for me to serve God. Here, I am assuming that following God’s plan is the best way to live our life. When we choose to put God first, God will lead us to where we will have the greatest purpose and peace. “Seek first the kingdom of God . . . , and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33).
“The goal would not be to become a nurse, for example. Rather, the goal would be to serve God, and then to ask whether nursing would be the best way for me to serve God.”
A second element in finding our vocation is becoming aware of our attachments. We might wish to head to Italy but secretly be obsessed with the penguins of Antarctica. Penguins are good, but in this instance, they would draw us off course. Discernment invites us to become aware of all those things that take us off course and away from the love of God. Some of these attachments might be related to addiction. Other attachments may not be as serious, but they can still draw us away little by little (e.g., the concern for worldly honour, a strong desire for comfort, etc.). We are invited to become aware of those things which take us off course and to once again set our hearts on the goal.
“Discernment invites us to become aware of all those things that take us off course and away from the love of God.”
A final element is to fall in love with Jesus. This is perhaps the engine of every vocation that is lived well. Whether you are a mother of three, a priest in the world, or living the single life well, loving Jesus creates the energy and vitality that makes any vocation worthwhile. It is important to remember that life is short. Though we are called to a specific mission in the world, our final home is with God. We are invited to be attached to the love that draws us heavenward and at the same time passionately animates our life here below. With this love we can endure all the waves, storms, and tempests that are part of life. Jesus is in the boat with us, and if we allow him, he will help us to reach the shore (John 6:21).
Now, put aside these elements and take a moment to simply marvel at God’s goodness in calling you! The God who made the universe chooses to invite you into his project and plan for the world. This not only shows how valuable you are, but it points as well to how great God truly is.
