vocation stories - 3rd sunday B 2018

Today we hear vocation stories.  In our first reading we find the vocation story of Jonah.  Jonah was called by God to preach a message of repentance to the people of Niniveh.  In our gospel we find the vocations stories of the brothers Simon and Andrew, and the other set of brothers, James and John.  Jesus called these brothers as they were casting and mending their nets.

Each of us has a vocation story.  Some vocations have already matured through the years, while others’ are still unfolding.  But each one of us have.  Why?  Because we were created on purpose.  No one here came to existence by accident.  Probably our parents may not have meant us, probably we were unexpected.  But in the eyes of God no one is an accident.  God created us on purpose because God loves us.  And God created us with a purpose in mind because he loves us.  I would like to propose two things for our reflection.

First, if you notice Jesus called his disciples wherever they were in their professions.  Simon and Andrew were casting their nets.  They were fishermen.  James and John were mending their nets.  It is said that they were not just ordinary fishermen but owners or would be owners, their father owning probably several boats.  If you remember Matthew, he was also called from his post, from his booth.  As we can see Jesus sought them out while they were practicing their professions, while they were in their work.

So also with us.  Jesus comes to us in our particular state and professions, with our unique and particular gifts.  These gifts would not be totally abandoned for the sake of the preaching.  Peter, Andrew, James and John would still be fishing from time to time.  In fact Jesus said, “come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In saying that they become fishers of men Jesus may have intended perhaps that they will use the same skills or in whatever they are good at in catching men and women so that in winning and gathering them they can make them disciples of the Lord.  They may have abandoned their nets but not their skills, not their focus, nor their zeal and their diligence, and surely not their energy and passion.

Use your skills and profession in building up the body of Christ.

Second, if you notice the call of Jesus does not come with instructions.  They were just called.  There was no contract, there was no list of expectations, there was not even a guarantee of outcome.  There were promises, just that but the future remained uncertain.  They did not know what was in store for them.  They do not know how it will end up. 

Every vocation is like that.  You do not know what lies ahead.  I am not just talking here of religious vocations.  I am also referring to professions or even jobs used for the building up of the church and our community, our society.

This year I will be celebrating my 25^th anniversary in the priesthood.  I was ordained 1993.  Supposedly, I should have been ordained 1992.  That is why there was no Silver Jubilarian last year.  It should have been me, only me.  But last year I celebrated a Silver Jubilee too.  I gathered the seminarians for a mass and I told them this is the Silver Anniversary of my Pagkatarantar.  Sang lapit na lang ako ordenan, binulan na lang, hinadlukan ako nagguwa ako sa seminaryo.  Pagkatarantar is part of vocation.  It’s ok to be afraid in a vocation.  Answering a vocation involves a lot of risks.  Imagine the risk of leaving your boats and nets, leaving behind your father and his business enterprise so that you can follow Jesus.  It’s not really a secure and sure prospect. But they jumped.  In fact the gospel describes this jump as kai euthys, meaning, and they left immediately – a favorite description of Mark to signify that the call of God always demands an urgent and immediate response.  Today we celebrate the feast of the Sto. Nino.  We are reminded that following the Lord and answering the vocation involves a child-like trust in God.

Again you have to ask yourself what is my purpose in life?  You are not an accident, for God had you in mind before you were even born.  You have a purpose – a purpose that will help build up the church, our community, our society. Discover this purpose.  It may not look secure, nevertheless make a leap of faith knowing, believing that it is Jesus who calls.