Re-Joy-ce: A daily commitment

IS 66:10-14C

PS 66:1-7, 16, 20

GAL 6:14-18

LK 10:1-12, 17-20

If you were to poll a random selection of 100 people, maybe in the way they do on Family Feud, and ask them to define discernment, I imagine you would be hard pressed to find a decent answer. There may be a token Catholic in the group who says, “thinking about becoming a priest” or another person that hints toward a decision making process. Parts of both answers could be true, but discernment definitely is not just for those contemplating priesthood or vowed religious life.

Both discernment and vocation are two rich words within the Catholic faith that often are misunderstood or left out of religious education altogether. Any truly Catholic (from the Greek kata holos, with respect to the whole or universal) definition would say that discernment is the process of listening to where your heart feels joy when choosing between two good paths. This could be as simple as picking what ice cream flavor you want when out with friends or as complex as finding your vocation. Similarly, the search for your vocation should always involve listening to your deepest joy and passion.

Unfortunately, the average Catholic polled about discernment would most likely say that vocations are calls to the priesthood; which is reflected in the constant drone of the staple prayer of the faithful for an “increase in vocations.” In my experience, most parishes are not conveying God’s need and desire for youth to answer the call to a variety of vocations as teachers, nurses, social workers and even engineers. A vocation is a career or life path that answers the call to follow your greatest passion, excitement, talent and joy. As Catholics, and Christians, vocation should be thought of as the extension of your best self toward others in living out the Reign of God.

The readings today speak clearly about our vocation and call to rejoice and find hope in God every day and in every person we meet. A daily commitment to act through joy is part of our larger vocation too. If you very simply break down the word rejoice, you will find the prefix “re” followed by an action form of the word joy. Just as we are called to forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times, bringing joy to others and being joyful ourselves is something we are called to do over and over again. If we are truly called to act as members of a universal church that brings joy, hope, love and forgiveness to the world, then it must be an all-inclusive and welcoming love. But how can we love people who are hateful and judgmental? How can we ever hope for peace in the world when there is so much conflict? The world can seem a scary, daunting, discouraging place to live in, but more passivity and lamentation cannot reverse the tides, only joy and love; and we learn this joy and love through the example of Jesus.

Jesus healed the hardened hearts of his people by listening to them, by showing them perfect love and by bringing them joy free of judgment or expectation. Although we are imperfect humans, we must try our best to emulate Jesus’ ways in our thoughts, words and actions each day. Even if our life vocations are undetermined, our daily vocation should be to listen to and care for God’s creation by bringing true love and joy to each person who crosses our path. When you are stuck in traffic or cut off by someone changing lanes on the highway, choose love. When you are presented the opportunity to scapegoat or gossip at work about the co-worker who sticks to herself, speak positively on their behalf with joy and respect. When you are considering the upcoming presidential elections, look at each candidate’s respect (or lack of) for human dignity. This daily call to action is not an excuse to point fingers or place the blame on others, instead our vocation is to set an example of love and joy that has the potential to change the hearts and minds of those around us. The beauty of a true vocation however, is that it involves all of the elements mentioned above, while looking completely unique for each person. This is a reason for excitement and joy in itself! God is excited for you to be you, and to follow the joy and passion in your heart right back to Him.