Jesus, The Key to Our Earthly Vocation: Reflection for 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

When we think of vocations, we first think that it relates to priest, sister, deacon, single, or even married life, right? Not quite. There is something more to it. Perhaps we are ignoring our most improtant vocation that is given to us at the moment we exist. 

Vocation originates from the Latin “vocare”, which means “to call”. Every single one of us has a vocation. 

There is a church song that I have heard during many school liturgies titled “We Are Called”. The write of the song wrote different ways God calls us to live in the City of God and to be “light for the kingdom”.

As we reflect on the second to last Sunday before Lent, we are seeing the theme of vocation echoing throughout the St. Paul’s epistle to the Corinthians. He wrote, “for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it!” He continues, “If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship.”

Why do vocations exist? The answer is Jesus. Jesus calls us to take part in proclaiming his kingdom. It’s not just for priest and religious. In fact, the laity can develop the eyes and ears needed for the church to be the church. Even Fulton Sheen that the lay people are the “Eyes and ears” of the church when they are needed to take part in the new evangelization. Without the faithful, the church can’t be held accountable.

In the Gospel from Mark, Christ is once again going around Galilee preaching, teaching, and driving out demons. Even demons are silenced at the sight of Jesus. He even cures the mother-in-law of Peter (mentioned as Simon).

Some of us may have hung their heads when listening once more to the book of Job. Job offers a snapshot of what it’s like to remain faithful to God despite all the suffering he endured. His vocation was to be faithful to God during suffering. For many of us who have went through so much (loss of job and struggle to find new work, divorce, loss of family member or loved one, and many other forms of suffering) God asks us to be faithful to him.

While many will be called to either religious vocation or married life, God offers two callings since we were brought into this world.

The first is to remain faithful to him. When we stay faithful to God, we shall be rewarded in heaven. We are even called to offer our sufferings to him because he knew what each one of us would endure as he hung on the cross.

The second is to preach the gospel. It may seem scary with the bizarre culture that surrounds us. We can preach the gospel everywhere we go. We don’t need to go around the world. Perhaps we are asked to do it in our own communities. Our faith must be put to work. When it is not put to work, it is nothing.

Let us boldly and accept the vocation to share the gospel everywhere now.