Fr. Joseph BARANJOKO

A 20th century famous Archbishop, Fulton Sheen, a famous preacher in America, who died in 1979. Recounted his first visit to Mother Teresa of Calcutta in India, He was marveled at the great things Mother Teresa was doing among the poor, the sick, the hungry, the abandoned and the marginalized. The Archbishop was said to have asked Mother Teresa: “How do you preach Christ to these unlearned, dejected and miserable people? Do they understand what you say?” Mother Teresa replied: “No, I do not do any preaching. I just serve them, take care of them and give them a sense of belonging. I then ask them whether they want to know about Christ. They have always replied that if Christ is like you, then we would like to know him. I tell them that I am only trying to imitate Christ. Their normal reply is: Then, tell us about him. This is how our discussion about Christ begins.”

Beloved, through our services, God is glorified. Our vocations and professions are not meant to glorify ourselves. They are not for self-aggrandizement. Hence, Isaiah in today’s first reading narrates his vocation as a prophet of God. While introducing Paul, the author of the Letter, our second reading mentions his vocation to be an Apostle (1Cor 1:1-3). Others whose vocations are mentioned are Sosthenes, the Christians at Corinth, and all those baptised in the name of Jesus. The common vocation of all these people (including us) is that we are called to be Christians. This is an enormous call that we have to handle with care. In the Gospel, John the Baptist is called to be the forerunner of Jesus.

Our vocation is right from our mother’s womb. This fact is always emphasized in the Scriptures. It is God who chooses and calls (Is 49:1, Ps139:13). “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11). In fact, the psalmist in Psalm 2:7-8, says “You are my son, today I have begotten you; Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage”.  But sometimes, when we labour, trying our best to keep to our vocation, it seems as if we are labouring in vain. We are looking forward to seeing immediately the fruit of our efforts, but it is not forthcoming. Sometimes, one may even experience persecution from those we serve.  But we must always be firm, for the Lord is our strength.

We have to learn to be happy in our present vocations, position, function, status, etc. When we necessarily desire higher things, let us seek whatever we desire from God in the right manner, through prayer, honest human effort, but not through crooked and dubious ways, otherwise, we may be forcing yourself into a dubious profession or status that God has not meant for us; and in such a situation, one may find oneself miserable all his/her life.

Lord sustain each and every one of us in our various vocations and professions.

SHALOM