Vocation Essay

How do priests, deacons, and religious brothers and sisters help us to hear God’s call in our lives?

Priests, deacons, and religious brothers and sisters explain the different ways in which we can live our lives. Religious life is not the only vocation. God can call us to become married or single. He can tell us to help the needy, or raise a family. Even become a missionary to spread the good news to the world.

Ask the people around you about their vocations, and how they are living them out each and every day. How did they hear God’s call? Ask about all of the different vocations in life. Ask yourself how all vocations build the kingdom of God. Keep in mind that your vocation may not be the one you wanted, but the one God wanted. Get the facts, understand all the different vocations. So that when the time comes you will be ready to accept any call God may give you.

There have been many ways in which people have heard God’s call. Some through visions, some through prayer, and some people are even spoken to directly by God. God has a plan for each and every one of us. If we just listen we too may be called by God to do great things.
God calls everyone differently. Each is unique and individual. For example in the Gospel of Genesis it is explained to us that God called down to Abraham. God said: Take your son Isaac, your only one, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you. The very next morning he saddled his donkey and road off with his son. Abraham listened to God’s message, and did everything he said. As Christians we should do the same.

Priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters set a good example to us on how to live out a vocation, because they are living theirs each and everyday. Talk to the religious people around you about their vocation. It could possibly help you in finding your vocation. Listen for God’s call in your life. It may come at any time...maybe when you least expect it.

Emily P. 7th Grade