GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 17TH JANUARY 2017
MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Hebrews 5:1-10
PSALM: Psalm 110:1-4
GOSPEL: MARK 2:18-22
THEME: HERE I AM, LORD
“You have chosen a good job”, someone remarked. I paused and momentarily reflected on the comment, and then responded, “Thanks, but mine is not a chosen job; it is a vocation”. One can choose and change jobs but cannot choose and change vocations. You either accept or reject a vocation.
The word “vocation” from the Latin root, “vocare” literally means “to call”. A vocation is first and foremost an initiative of God. He is the One who does the calling and He uses a criteria that is unknown to the human mind.
Reflecting on priestly service and making a case that the priesthood of Christ is substantively and qualitatively higher than that of the Aaronic priests, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, in our First Reading, writes, “No one takes this honour on himself; it needs a call from God, as in Aaron’s case” (Heb. 5:4). God is at the beginning and the end of every authentic vocation.
In the Body of Christ, we can speak of two levels of vocation:
1. Universal Vocation: The call to follow in the footsteps of Christ and thereby become holy.
2. Particular Vocation: Each one of us has been offered particular graces and gifts for various tasks in the Body of Christ (cf. Eph. 4:7-16; 1Cor 12:27-31).
The greatest discovery of all time is to know why you are here on earth and to live accordingly. Restless yearnings cease in the warm embrace of the One who holds the purpose of our being. There are some who have discovered their vocations and others are yet to. May we turn to the Lord this day and pray, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will”.
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).