Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
Gospel: John 1:35-42 “Look, there is the Lamb of God.”
Full sermon text: In J. R. Tolkien’s, Lord of the Rings, a young hobbit, Frodo, is thrust into a dangerous mission to save the Middle Earth from evil. He must take the Ring of Power, which is a symbol for sin and the cross, and destroy it. The whole situation is beyond the little humble hobbit, but it becomes clear to all that only he can do it. Frodo’s friends, Gandalf and Aragorn, help him to understand his great calling and carry it out.
Why is there growth in this Order?God is blessing us with new men, strong in the faith, eager to serve Him under our charism. Why? Go to our website and read,
Is God calling you to become a Mercedarian friar? Visit Fr. Joseph’s page.
Each of us as Catholic Christians have a special vocation or “calling” from God. Our vocation comes from God and is uniquely suited for us. Young people need several things to discern and fulfill their vocation in this life: 1) a foundation in virtues, 2) a habit of frequenting the Sacraments and avoiding serious sin, and 3) the example and support of family and friends.
Understanding God’s voice
We see in the first reading that Samuel experiences a dramatic “calling” from God. The Lord speaks to the youth, but Samuel cannot understand the Call. The scriptures tell us that he is not yet “familiar with the Lord.” Eli teaches him how to understand God’s voice and respond to it with generosity. At the prompting of Eli, Samuel responds, “speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”
As most of us know we have been experiencing a “vocation crisis” in the United States over the past 40 years. The “crisis” is not that God isn’t calling, but that people (men and women) are not able or not open to respond to the call to a religious vocation. This crisis affects all us, especially today as diocese after diocese in the Northeast has gone through or is beginning the process of closing our beloved Catholic schools and parishes. We are all sad to see these hollowed buildings go and some are very angry.
Yet, these parishes and schools were built upon the generosity of our ancestors. The generosity of families who encouraged and were proud to have a daughter or a son become a religious or priest. So every school was filled with religious sisters and rectories had three or more priests in them. The Church of our forefathers provided the immigrant Catholics with top quality education and, most importantly, taught them the True Faith. Cultural situations have changed and we may never see the numbers of religious we had in the past, but we are sure feeling the effects of the vocation shortage. We all have a part to play in the vocation shortage and we can’t just pass it off on someone else.
More radical service
How do we help young people today to respond to the call that they are given to serve Christ’s Church as priests and religious? First, we must provide a family environment that is a “house of virtue.” It is in the home that potential Church leaders learn first to live a virtuous life centered in the Sacraments. We must teach our youth that true peace and joy come from living our baptismal commitment with courage! Essentially, each parent is called to point their children to Jesus like St John the Baptist saying, “behold the lamb of God.”
Secondly, we need to be convinced that God will never be outdone in generosity. Everyone wants to do great things with their life. God puts in our hearts the call to be very generous by living fully our vocation to marriage or to a more radical service in God’s Church. The supernatural vocation is given to some to go beyond what is required and live as Christ did. It takes generosity to respond. To be like Frodo and bear the burden of the sins of others. The priest offers the sacrifice of Jesus’ death for the whole world. A woman religious offers the sacrifice of her life to be the mother to thousands of souls, young and old.
The “new springtime”
Unfortunately, some of our youth feel the call to “come and…see,” but they get discouragement from home. “It is a lonely life!” You won’t be happy!” or “I want to have grandchildren!” It comes down to generosity. In the past, our grandparents and great grandparents were generous in sending sons and daughters to a religious vocation. They saw a family member dedicated to God as a great blessing. What did we receive in return? God blessed our nation with the best Catholic school system in the world and a beautiful church on every block. Let us strive to follow their example of generosity. We can be part of the “new springtime” that John Paul II prophesized would happen. Let us provide for the next generation by praying for vocations and encouraging our children to respond to this call. God will never be outdone in generosity. If we respond to his call, he will raise up many sisters, brothers, and priests to serve our children and our children’s children. All we have to do is trust!