Over the last few weeks, we have heard in daily and Sunday readings about being called.  In the book of Samuel, we have heard the story of both Samuel and David, and in the Gospels we have heard about the “call" by Jesus of the disciples and others.

Each of us is called, chosen, gifted, by God to follow Him:  this is the call we commit to when we are baptized.  We live out our God journey in a particular way of life, in a particular life-form.  We are also called to this life-form – this is our vocation.   Our vocation can be to follow God as a single person, or with a partner, or within a community as a vowed religious, or as an ordained priest or deacon.  

Over the next few weeks, we will be calling our attention to these different vocations, and the importance of each of us understanding that our lives are to be lived as "vocation" - as one called to God, by God, to be realized in a particular way of life.  This in turn necessitates an understanding and appreciation of discernment - being able to listen and hear God, and know that to which God is calling us.  To get us started, you are invited to read Fr. John's homily of January 15 (attached below).  This link (video) will take you to a homily of Fr. Gary Braun of Washington University here in St. Louis, about being called by God to a particular way of life.

Links:

http://www.catholicsoncall.org/:  Catholics On Call is a program of the Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union. It started in 2005 with a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. under the "Making Connections" Initiative. Catholics On Call assists young adults to reflect on God’s call in their lives, by beginning to answer the questions:  What do you really want to do with your life? Who do you want to be? How do you know if you’re on the right path? How is God speaking to you about your career choice?  

http://www.religiouslife.com/:  Since 1974, the Institute on Religious Life has been a collaborative effort of Catholic bishops, priests, religious and laity to foster and strengthen vocations to the consecrated life.

http://catholicyouthministry.com/:  This is the website for "LifeTeen" - an international Catholic ministry who "believes that Eucharist-based ministry has the power to transform teens and parishes, and transform culture.