Vocation Awareness Week

We are now in the first week of Ordinary Time. This interim season, lasting until Ash Wednesday on February 17th, focuses on the mission of Jesus after his Baptism in the Jordan. He begins proclaiming the Gospel, the Good News: "This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the Gospel" (Mk 1: 15). Today's Gospel from Mark continues with the invitation, call, to Peter and Andrew, James and John, to leave their fishing nets, follow Jesus and become fishers of men." (cf. Mk 1: 16-20). Jesus begins to gather helpers for his mission, foundation builders for the Kingdom. That call still goes out today and the Church has set aside this week to emphasize it, for certainly, the need for kingdom builders today is critical.
Each one of us has this call, this mission, and it is a remarkble phenomenon that so many lay people are responding with great sincerity and generosity. The ranks of the priesthood, sisterhood, and brotherhood, however, are not swelling as quickly, if at all. We are all lamenting the merging or closing of parishes and schools, and thus the decline in active, educated faithful. Indeed, there are so many unchurched, the need for widespread evangelization resembles the times when saints went to great pains to evangelize the barbarians who took over Europe after the Fall of the Roman Empire. They were hugely successful, but now fervor has waned, secularism, materialism, indifference and unbelief are running rampant.
We can help by praying to the Holy Spirit daily for a renewal of the faith, for generous responses to the invitation to "Come, follow me". Proposing full-time service to the Church to children, teens, young and even older adults takes courage and conviction, but it is clear that the simple question, "Have you ever thought about being a priest, sister or brother?" has planted the seed in the hearts of many of today's consecrated religious and priests. The Holy Spirit does the rest...even years after the question has been asked. Let's make it a point today, this week, to ask one person a day...and yes, to continue beyond this week to pray and ask.
Bro. Rene