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Vocation Meditation -
October 2, 2011
"I have chosen you from the world says the Lord to go and bear fruit that will last."
(Gospel Acclamation)
In today's Gospel, (Matt 21: 33-43), Jesus tells us a parable story about vineyard workers. The tenants act as if they are owners of the vineyard and can do what they like regarding its owner and his servants. The parable is a thinly veiled description of the history of God's relationship with his own chosen people. A hardness of heart has taken over these tenants preventing them from even realizing what they are doing when they ill treat the servants of the owner and then kill the owner's own son who was sent to collect the owner's share of the harvest. Blind to the amazing patience and great generosity of the owner, in the end they lose everything.
If we change the context of the vineyard to the world today in which we live, we might ask ourselves: "How am I at work in the world as a Christian? Am I grateful for the gifts that God gives me each day like":
- His reassuring love, forgiveness of my sins
- Lifting me up when I am discouraged
- Answering my prayer when I am in need
- Putting people on my path who help me, encourage me
- Joy of heart, peace of mind
- purpose and meaning in my life
- my family, my job, my school
All these are gifts of God shared with me, not merely for myself for something far greater. Jesus today is trying to wake us up to be aware that God calls each of us in the context of our lives today to be co-creators in a great Divine Project, the salvation of the world.
For Refection:
How open am I to the movement of God's spirit inviting me to take an active part in God's great Divine Project? How might I see myself responding to God's call, through the vocation of marriage, or perhaps as a priest, a religious sister or brother? Am I ready to make a commitment? To whom may I look to for support and guidance?
Prayer:
O God, from whom all good things have their origin, let your Holy Spirit come upon me to guide me in discerning my future, and to live it fully in and through you. Amen.
For the full Gospel reading for this Sunday, visit the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site.