Vocation

The concept of vocation

 LI and SC
LI:

To know the meaning of Gods call

To understand that God has a plan and calling for us all

SC:

I can define vocation

I can reflect on what I believe God is calling me do to and be

I can identify common features of God’s call to and the response

of Old and New Testament Saints
 “For many are called, but few are
chosen” (Matthew 22:14). Called and
chosen for what? What is God’s calling? Are
you sure you are among the called?
Can you imagine your telephone’s caller ID displaying “God calling,” when
your phone rings? Of course, His calling is much more subtle than that, but it
is just as real. Jesus plainly stated, “No one can come to Me unless the
Father who sent Me draws [calls or invites] him” (John 6:44, also note verse
65). Clearly, Christ is saying that no one can come to Him; that is, no one can
become a Christian unless the Father first calls that person.

Jesus’ teachings were shocking—so much so that John said many of Christ’s
disciples took offense at His words and walked away for good (verse 66).
God’s calling refers to the process by which the Father draws (or calls) a
person. It includes God’s opening a person’s mind to understand spiritual
truth, and it is literally an invitation to salvation for that individual.

There is much confusion about the meaning of salvation, so let’s simplify it.
In the physical sense, salvation means being rescued, usually from death. A
person pulled from a burning building has been saved from a terrible death.
Similarly, spiritual salvation means being rescued or saved from eternal
death. The difference is that spiritual death is a death from which there is no
return, literally ceasing to exist. The saved, even if they experience physical
death before Christ’s return, will be changed to spirit and live forever when
He comes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRehBbBTxbQ
What is Vocation?
 Think-pair-share

• Think: What is Vocation? Dot point your thoughts/

ideas down. Remember there are two concepts
about vocation.

• Pair with the person next to you.

• Share your thoughts with your partner and copy

any additional points to your list!
 Vocation in a Religious Context
A simple definition of ‘vocation’ is the literal meaning of the word: call.

But a vocation is more than an ordinary call. A vocation is a call from God, and
anyone who has felt God's call knows that the process is anything but simple. While
most people think of a vocation as what they are called to do in life, it is important
to understand that the first and most important call from God is to be holy.

Your vocation is not the same as your career or profession. However, there is an
overlap between a vocation and a profession.

When we talk about vocation, we introduce a vertical dimension in our life, which is
God. It is no longer ‘what do I prefer?' but rather ‘What does God want me to be?”.

Summary:

Vocation is about how one responds to God's call to be priest, prophet and king
within the contexts of my chosen career and lifestyle (as a single or married person
or as an ordained priest or religious).
 Dimensions of Christian
Vocation
Because the Christian vocation is God calling us to a journey to holiness, by sharing in
the life and love of Christ, it has three dimensions, the:

1 Priestly dimension: Giving selflessly through sacrifice. 


All Christians are called to share in the priesthood of Christ by giving selflessly of
themselves in sacrifice. In this context, 'priesthood' does not refer to the ordained
ministry, but to the common priesthood of all believers. We give expression to the
priestly dimension of our vocation by making selfless sacrifices for the benefit of others.

2 Prophetic dimension: Everyday Prophets/messengers/teachers.


While a prophet is someone who speaks for God, this does not imply that we have to
'wear our faith on our sleeves' by wearing big symbols or saying we are Christian. This
dimension could be lived out by parents, when they teach their young children about
God, when they teach them to pray, and when they lead the family in prayer, be it Grace
before Meals or even the Rosary. Some adults choose to share their beliefs with those
who are keen to learn about the Catholic faith by participating in the Rite of Christian
Initiation for Adults programme. Some people speak for God in more radical ways. e.g.
John the Baptist, Moses etc.
 Dimensions of Christian
Vocation
3 Kingly dimension: Selfless loving service

The kingly dimension of our vocation refers to selfless loving service for the good of
others. This dimension may be expressed in numerous ways. Teenagers, for example,
give expression to this dimension when they visit elderly people living in a nursing home.

People witness to the kingly dimension of their vocation at work. For some this occurs
within the context of the Church, such as teachers who educate young people in Catholic
schools, or nurses and nursing aides who work in Catholic aged care facilities.

Christians witness to these dimensions of their vocation motivated by Christian love

(unconditional a.k.a agape).

All three dimensions characterise Christian vocations, irrespective of whether one is a

single or married lay person, a priest or a religious. As Christians we are called to give
witness to all three dimensions of our vocation. While is it useful to take a look at how
Christians generally give expression to them separately, it is important to be aware that
there is overlap; a ministry, for example, may reflect more than one dimension.
 How can one live their
vocation?
We live out the invitation ‘to be holy' differently depending on which vocation we have chosen.
The four specific vocations are: single life, married life, consecrated life or the ordained ministry.
Each vocation is a call to follow Christ closely.

• For someone who has chosen a single life, they strive to follow Christ in their daily life.

• For a married Christian couple, they follow Christ by giving themselves to each other
completely and without any reservation, promising to love each other faithfully for the rest of
their lives, sharing their joys and sufferings in whatever circumstances life brings them.

• Religious: Nuns and Brothers who have chosen the consecrated life, their path of following
Christ is through their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. They are called to live as Christ
lived; to model their lives on the life of Jesus- chaste, poor and obedient - making their hearts
more free for prayer and service.

• For those who have chosen the ordained ministry, through sacramental ordination, they share
in the priesthood of Christ in a special way. Their very beings are transfigured so that they can
represent Christ the Good Shepherd for God's people and Christ as the Head of the Church.
They not only offer their own lives to the Father, as all Christians do, but they also stand before
the Church and minister to the faithful as Christ ‘in person.’
Priesthood case study

https://vimeo.com/
137097394