This weekend, we hear St. Mark’s account of the calling of the first disciples. In many ways, this Gospel is a parallel to last week’s reading from John’s Gospel, where the first disciples came to Jesus, after he was pointed out by John the Baptist. This Gospel once again challenges us to examine the way that we respond to God’s call to follow him.
The Gospel tells us that when Jesus first called Peter and Andrew, they immediately left their nets and followed him. There is a certain joy present in their response, which reminds us of the fulfillment that comes from truly following Christ in our lives. St. Augustine said it best in his Confessions, when he wrote “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”
St. Augustine’s words remind us that when we seek happiness in the things of the world, that pleasure is only fleeting. They may bring us contentment for a time, but that pleasure is only temporary. When we truly follow the way of the Lord in our lives, we will find that we know true contentment and peace. Even when we face trials and difficulties, we do so with a sense of peace, knowing that God is with us, and we are continuing to seek out his will for our lives.
As part of our Year of Prayer for Vocations, our Diocese is beginning a new initiative this weekend, “Called by Name.” This initiative reminds us that God does call each of us by name to follow him, just as he called the first disciples in today’s Gospel. There will be more information in this initiative on a handout in this weekend’s bulletin. “Called By Name” invites Priests and Deacons to share their vocation story, and allow others to hear how God has called them by name to serve in the Church.
“Called By Name” reminds us that God uses many different ways, and different people, to make his will known to those he is calling to service in the Church. As part of this initiative, parishioners will be invited to submit names of young men whom they think may have a vocation to the Priesthood. These submissions are made anonymously, and there will again be more information in the bulletin. The Diocese will compile all the names that are submitted, and invite the young men who have been called to discern whether or not God is calling them to a vocation in the church.
Please continue to pray for vocations to the Priesthood in our Diocese, and throughout the world.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB