Vigils Reading – Office for Vocations
THE MEANING OF VOCATION
By Pope St John Paul II
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Faith and love are not just words or vague feelings. Believing and loving
God means a consistent life, lived wholly in the light of the Gospel. This is not
easy. It often calls for great courage in going against the trends of fashion and
the opinions of our world. But this is the one requirement for a truly successful
and happy life.
If, in spite of your personal effort to follow Christ you are sometimes weak
and do not live in conformity to the law of love, to the commandments, do not be
discouraged. Christ continues to wait for you. He, Jesus, is the Good Shepherd
who searches for the lost sheep and who tenderly bears it on his shoulder. Christ
is the friend who never lets you down.
In the gospel story we see that the young man, having affirmed that he has
kept the commandments, adds: “What do I still lack?” The young heart, moved
by God’s grace, felt a desire for greater generosity, more commitment, greater
love. This desire for more is characteristic of youth; a heart that is in love does
not calculate, does not begrudge, it wants to give of itself without measure.
“Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, come, follow me.”
To those who entered the path of life by observing the commandments,
the Lord proposes new horizons; the Lord proposes to the means that are loftier
and calls them to commit themselves to his love without reserve. To discover
this call, this vocation, is to realize that Christ is looking on you and inviting you
by his glance to give yourself totally in love. Before this glance, before his love,
the heart opens its doors gradually and is capable of saying yes.
If some of you hear the call to follow Christ more closely, to dedicate your
entire heart to him, like the apostles John and Paul, be generous, do not be
afraid, because you have nothing to fear when the prize that you await is God
Himself, for whom, sometimes without ever knowing it, all young people are
searching.
Young people who are hastening to me, young people who more than
anything else want to know what you must do to gain eternal life, always say yes
to God and he will fill you with his happiness.
“There is one thing you lack, come, follow me”. Is Jesus perhaps repeating
to some of you today: “There is one thing you lack?” Is he perhaps asking for
even more love, more generosity, more sacrifice? Yes, the love of Christ involves
generosity and sacrifice. To follow Christ and to serve the world in his name
requires courage and strength. There is no place for selfishness – and no place
for fear! Do not be afraid, then, when love makes demands. Do not be afraid
when love requires sacrifice.
To each one of you I say, therefore: Heed the call of Christ when you hear
him saying to you: “Follow me!” Walk in my path! Stand by my side! Remain in
my love! There is a choice to be made: a choice for Christ and the way of life, and
his commandment of love.