"Vocations Awareness Month: Vocations are truly precious gifts,
too precious to be taken lightly or not responded to generously"
by Bishop William S. Skylstad
(From the Oct. 5, 2000 edition of the Inland Register)
This Jubilee Year reminds all of us of the
remarkable tradition we have in the Church as the result of Jesus coming into the world. The
Good News has been and is being preached to the ends of the earth. The impact of the Gospel
upon the world these past 2000 years has in many ways been very remarkable. On the other
hand, the past 20th century has been one of the bloodiest in human history. Much more work
needs to be done so that the message of Jesus may be more integrated in the life of the human
family. Jesus told us that the harvest is ready in the vineyard of the Lord but the laborers
are few. We must take those words to heart and ask ourselves as Church and as followers of
Jesus how we are taking responsibility for the opportunities of the moment to spread the
Gospel. How can we help make this world more closely aligned to the words of St. Paul, who
tells us that the kingdom of God is a place of justice, peace, and joy? Each of us is called by
God in a unique way to participate in this mission. I pray that all of us can respond together
in a hopeful, generous and faith-filled manner.
The vocations in our world are many, but the Church especially reminds those of us who are called to Sisterhood, Brotherhood and priesthood to be sensitive to that call. Just recently, while traveling in the car, I listened to the life history of Pope John Paul II on tape. It’s a remarkable story of how God’s call constantly touched the future pope’s life, sometimes in very difficult and dangerous circumstances, and how the Holy Father responds generously.
God expects no less from any one of us. There are always sufficient vocations for the Church. We believe that in faith. It’s up to us to support and respond to these calls as instruments of the Lord and as servants of one another.
>P>
May we pray for one another to be faithful and sensitive to the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Vocations are truly precious gifts, too precious to be taken lightly or not responded to generously. Their blessing for all of us is truly another sign of God’s loving presence in our midst.
This Jubilee Year reminds all of us of the
remarkable tradition we have in the Church as the result of Jesus coming into the world. The
Good News has been and is being preached to the ends of the earth. The impact of the Gospel
upon the world these past 2000 years has in many ways been very remarkable. On the other
hand, the past 20th century has been one of the bloodiest in human history. Much more work
needs to be done so that the message of Jesus may be more integrated in the life of the human
family. Jesus told us that the harvest is ready in the vineyard of the Lord but the laborers
are few. We must take those words to heart and ask ourselves as Church and as followers of
Jesus how we are taking responsibility for the opportunities of the moment to spread the
Gospel. How can we help make this world more closely aligned to the words of St. Paul, who
tells us that the kingdom of God is a place of justice, peace, and joy? Each of us is called by
God in a unique way to participate in this mission. I pray that all of us can respond together
in a hopeful, generous and faith-filled manner.
