Tag: vocations

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Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus' hand

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Mass Readings

Reading 1: Isaiah 53:10-11
Responsorial: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
Reading 2: Hebrews 4:14-16
Gospel: Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101721.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Welcome back for another edition of deacon rudy’s notes. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal and together we’re going to break open the Word!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “I came to serve, not to be served” (Mark 10:45). What a powerful line – a powerful theme – that’s at the heart of what it means to be a Christian disciple – service. It’s also at the center of so many our vocation stories. I’d like to share a little bit of my story with you.

When I was in high school, I wanted to be an attorney. I wanted to earn my first million by the time I turned twenty-one! And then of course that movie came out. You know, the one with Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson – A Few Good Men. Who didn’t want to be the suave debonair attorney in a courtroom saying, “I want the truth!”

Man, did I have a plan!

One day, there was an event going on at school and an event going on at the parish. So, my dad let me take the other car and go to school first and then come to the church when it was finished. I remember walking into the parish hall, and some adult I didn’t know saw me. He jumped out of his chair and rushed over to me. He said, “You must be our new seminarian.” In my heart of hearts I said, “good one, Lord, but I’ve got plans.”

Things like that kept happening to me – too many to share today. I even had a series of conversations with the director of campus ministry, a priest, about my call. Ultimately, I told him that I believed I was being called to married life. I thought that was that! Man was I wrong!

The next year I met this beautiful girl. A few years later, we married. And a few years later, we started a family. But we both kept feeling this call to serve. So, we served in a variety of ways – as a couple, as a family, as individuals. But for me, something was missing.

So, I kicked it up a notch. I became an acolyte much like our CALM up here. One year, I was coordinating the altar servers. The diocese had a workshop for altar servers in Belton. So, some parents and I took a group of altar servers to Belton. While I was there, I ran into an old college buddy who I hadn’t seen in years. He saw me, threw his arms in the air and he bounded up to me and said, “Father, Rudy!” In my heart of hearts, I said, “Well played, Lord, well played.”

I felt God was trying to send me a message. I felt I was being invited to be a deacon. So, I went home and I talked with my wife. After some discussion, prayer and some tears, we decided to speak with Father. And then we decided to attend an inquiry session. An inquiry session is an opportunity to learn more about the diaconate, to learn about the application process, and to learn about the formation process. And the rest is history.

What about you? Does any of that sound familiar to you? When you hear Jesus say, “I came to serve,” does something in your heart stir? Have you ever considered serving God as a priest, a deacon or a consecrated religious brother or sister?

You might be thinking, “Hold on now, Deacon! Don’t ask me that question! I can’t serve! Jesus doesn’t want a person like me!”

I get it! I used to think that way and to be honest, sometimes I doubt my call. I remember saying to Jesus, “You don’t want me! I’m a dreamer! I’m a big picture guy! I’m not the best or the brightest or the most organized. I don’t like the straight path! I like to meander my way through the woods and take my time. You don’t want me, Lord.”

God addressed my concern on the radio, believe or not! I remember listening to KLOVE, and someone rattled off a list of people in Scripture who have problems, yet God was able to work through them. Now, I don’t remember the whole list, but it went something like this. Isaac, one of the patriarchs was blind. Jacob who led his family to Canaan, walked with a limp after wrestling with the angel Lord. Rahab, that important spy who helped the people capture Jericho, was a prostitute. Moses spoke with a stutter. Peter denied Jesus three times. James and John in today’s Gospel asked Jesus, “What’s in it for us?” And Paul stood by and watched as Stephen, one of the first deacons of the church, was stoned to death.

God said to all of them, Despite all your problems and faults, I can work with you. He said to me, Rudy, despite all your problems and faults, I can work with you. And he says to each and every one of you, I can most assuredly work with you.

Okay, next question. Why does Jesus need me? Aren’t there enough priests, and deacons and religious brothers and sisters in this world? And the short answer is no.

But the need in our own parish is great!

There are retired people in our parish who think to themselves, “This isn’t what I had in mind for retirement.” Maybe their independence is threatened because their bodies aren’t cooperating or the money they saved for retirement is running out too fast.

Do you know, there are grandparents whose adult children are so busy trying to meet the challenges of life that they can’t bring their own kids to faith formation classes? So, the grandparents who believe it’s important for their grandchildren to be grounded in the faith bring their grandkids to faith formation classes.

There are single parents who struggle like so many people living paycheck to paycheck. The come to mass, and they feel completely alone.

I was reminded last night that there are also people in our community who are hurting over the loss of their spouse or a close family member. And they’re trying to figure out what’s their role in life now that their children have grown up and left the house.

The need is great right here, right now. None of those people want the Church to solve their problems them. But they need us to be here in ministry – to walk with them on their journey of faith. They need you right here, right now. Will you answer the call?

Ladies, next Wednesday, Project Miriam is hosting a dinner at St. William for young, single ladies who would like to know more about becoming a religious sister. Just go on to the Diocese of Austin’s vocations website to RSVP.

To the single men of our community, the diocese is hosting a dinner next Thursday at the Cathedral for men considering the priesthood. Just go on to the diocese’s vocations page to RSVP or talk with Father.

Gentlemen, if you’ve between the ages of 30 to 59 and wondered whether Jesus is calling you to be a deacon, then I have really good news for you! The diocese will begin hosting inquiry sessions at various locations beginning this November and running through next Spring. An inquiry session is where you can learn more about what it means to be a deacon, the application process, and the formation process. I encourage you to check it out. Talk to Father. Talk to me. Talk to any one of my brother deacons or our wives. We’d love to listen to how God is calling you and we’d love to share some more of our vocations stories with you.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites you to a life of service. What are you waiting for?

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by the Eucharist, I encourage you to reflect on the following question.

Jesus said he came to serve, not to be served. Ask yourself, “How am I answering Jesus’ invitation to serve?”

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May each of us come to know the grace and peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word! Peace!

Image Credit: Unknown. JPG file.

References:
1. Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. Kindle.
2. Healy, Mary. The Gospel of Mark. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2008. Kindle.
3. Montague, George T. SM. Mark: A Popular Commentary on the Earliest Gospel. Steubenville, Ohio: Franciscan University Press, 1992.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. Christ as truly man: 467-70
2. Jesus’ temptations: 538-40
3. Jesus’ sacrifice: 599-618, 1225
4. Jesus’ sinlessness: 612
5. Christ the high priest: 662, 1137, 1544-45
6. Authority as service: 876, 2235
7. Jesus’ sympathy for us: 2602
8. Confidence before God: 2777-8

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101721.cfm
Lectionary: 146

Reading 1
Isaiah 53:10-11
The LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness
of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.

Responsorial
Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22
R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Reading 2
Hebrews 4:14-16
Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Alleluia
Mark 10:45
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Son of Man came to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45
James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
“Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?”
They answered him, “Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”
They said to him, “We can.”
Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

OR:

Jesus summoned the twelve and said to them,
“You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

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Good Shepherd Sunday

picture of the child Jesus as a shepherd boy with a lamb

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Fourth Sunday of Easter Mass Readings

Reading 1: Acts 4:8-12
Responsorial: Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
Reading 2: 1 John 3:1-2
Gospel: John 10:11-18

https://bible.usccb.org/Bible/readings/042521.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Welcome! I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and I’m so glad you’re here! Together, let’s break open the Word! This weekend marks the Fourth Sunday of Easter when we celebrate Jesus who is the Good Shepherd. Why? Because in today’s Gospel, he says, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). On this Sunday, the Church asks us to pray for vocations. We pray for all vocations of course! But today we are asked to focus our attention for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life. And by consecrated religious life I mean all those men and women who join religious orders to serve as priests, brothers and sisters, monks and nuns. So, please keep vocations and all young people discerning God’s call for their lives on your mind as we celebrate mass this weekend and in your prayers this week.

Where do future priests and consecrated religious – and for that matter, future bishops and deacons – come from? Vocations come from families. So, as we contemplate Jesus the Good Shepherd, we must begin with ourselves. All of us are part of families – even if we don’t have children – we have nieces and nephews and maybe grandchildren and friends whose children are practically family. So, we begin our contemplation on ourselves.

To begin that exercise, we turn our attention to the second reading today which comes to us from the First Letter of John. What do we hear proclaimed from John today? John says, “Beloved, we are God’s children now” (1 John 3:2).

Where do we find language like that in Scripture?

Earlier this year, we heard the baptism of Jesus proclaimed from the gospel account according to Mark. God says, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Jesus’ ministry begins when he heard God’s reassurance that he is God’s beloved.

Now we hear John tell us that since we are children of God, we – each and every one of us – is a beloved of God. We are loved so dearly that each of us who are baptized in Christ Jesus is called a child of God! Just meditate on that for a while! Try to absorb that!

Living our lives as someone so deeply loved by God – that by itself is enough to change how we face each and every day! But wait! There’s more!

In the Gospel, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father” (John 10:14). So, now Jesus says that he is our shepherd and that we, the beloved of God, are his flock. He knows us and we know him just like he knows the Father and the Father knows him.

This isn’t just a casual arrangement. No! Jesus means that he understands us – everything about us. And Jesus says that’s how we are supposed to know him. Now let’s think about that for a second.

I’m sure you’ve all heard some variation of this story before, but it’s worth repeating today. There was a dinner party – pre-pandemic of course – there was a dinner party and one of the guests was a famous actor. Everyone asked the actor if he would recite some bit of script for them. He said he would like to recite Psalm 23, but only if another invited a guest, a priest, recites it after him. Everyone starts clapping and saying “yes, yes, yes!” And the kind priest agreed.

So, the actor stood up and began, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” (Psalm 23:1). And he goes on and on and when he’s finished, the whole crowd stands up clapping and cheering! And then the actor says, “Thank you, thank you! But, let’s all quiet down please. Everyone take your seats. Father, if you please.”

And the kindly old priest stood up and said, “The-Lord-is-my-shepherd—there-is-nothing-I-shall-want.” When he finished reciting the entire psalm, everyone was quiet. Some of the guests wiped tears from their eyes. The actor stood up again and said, “you know what the difference is between the two of us, don’t you? I know the psalm, but Father knows the shepherd.”

My brothers and sisters, you and I are invited to know Jesus the Good Shepherd. I suggest that will take a little more time than whatever time you spend in mass. How can we encourage people young or old who are discerning God’s plan for their lives to take up the mantle of the Good Shepherd if we don’t know the Shepherd?

So, on this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we gather to worship and praise Jesus the Good Shepherd, but we also recommit ourselves to deepening our knowledge of Jesus through prayer, study, reading the lives of the saints, and self-examination. Do we see fruits from knowing Jesus? Are we growing in virtue and controlling our vices?

Jesus says, “they will hear my voice” (John 10:16). Isn’t that wonderful? No matter my sin, no matter how badly I’ve been behaving of late, because I am beloved, Jesus will still call my name! There is mercy in his voice! That doesn’t mean there won’t be consequences. But the Shepherd says to me, “get up off the floor! This pity party is over! There’s work to be done!”

What great hope we all can find in Jesus, the Good Shepherd! It is out of our hope, our love, our knowing God that enables us to encourage people in our own families to dedicate their lives to the service of the church and the whole world as priests and consecrated religious.

Homework! Nourished by the Good Shepherd through the Word and Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following questions.
First, let’s continue our assignment from last week: what steps am I taking to deepen my relationship with Jesus?
Second, how can I encourage vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life from within my family, my circle of friends and my parish?

I think doing our homework can help us live out our discipleship. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to deacon rudy’s notes. Thank you for joining me today. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join me again next weekend as we break open the Word. Peace!

Image Credit: El Buen Pastor. Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617-82), ca. 1660; Museo del Prado, Madrid. (Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons) JPG.

Notes: I am indebted to Fr. Larry Richards and the Reason For Our Hope Foundation for the inspiration for this homily https://thereasonforourhope.org/.

Bibliography/Suggested Readings:
1. Anderson, Kelly and Daniel Keating. James, First, Second, and Third John. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2017. Kindle.
2. Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018. Kindle.
3. Kurz, William S. SJ. Acts of the Apostles. Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013. Kindle.

Catechism References http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm:
1. We are God’s children now: 1, 104, 239, 1692, 1709, 2009, 2736
2. Salvation in Jesus alone: 161, 432
3. Seeing God in the beatific vision: 163, 1023, 2519
4. Pope and bishops as shepherds: 553, 857, 861, 881, 896, 1558, 1561, 1568, 1574
5. Jesus’ self-offering: 606-9
6. Christ the Shepherd and the Gate: 754, 764, 2665
7. Christ the cornerstone: 756
8. Catholicity: 831
9. The church’s mission: 849-56
10. Priests as shepherds: 874, 1120, 1465, 1536, 1548-51, 1564, 2179, 2686
11. Revelation that we are children of God: 1692

Fourth Sunday of Easter https://bible.usccb.org/Bible/readings/042521.cfm
Lectionary: 50

Reading 1
Acts 4:8-12
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said:
“Leaders of the people and elders:
If we are being examined today
about a good deed done to a cripple,
namely, by what means he was saved,
then all of you and all the people of Israel should know
that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean
whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead;
in his name this man stands before you healed.
He is the stone rejected by you, the builders,
which has become the cornerstone.
There is no salvation through anyone else,
nor is there any other name under heaven
given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”

Responsorial
Psalm 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29
R. (22) The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his kindness endures forever.
R. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone.
or R. Alleluia.

Reading 2
1 Jn 3:1-2
Beloved:
See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us
is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is.

Alleluia
John 10:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
John 10:11-18
Jesus said:
“I am the good shepherd.
A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
A hired man, who is not a shepherd
and whose sheep are not his own,
sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away,
and the wolf catches and scatters them.
This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd,
and I know mine and mine know me,
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;
and I will lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold.
These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice,
and there will be one flock, one shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me,
because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.
I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again.
This command I have received from my Father.”

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Good Shepherd Sunday

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Mass Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter
First Reading: Acts 13:14, 43-52
Psalm: Psalm 100:1-3, 5
Second Reading: Revelation 7:9, 14B-17
Gospel: John 10:27-30

Happy Mother’s Day to all our friends and family around the world who celebrate mothers today.

The fourth Sunday of Easter which is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” is also the “World Day of Prayer for Vocations.” As always, you can find the links to today’s readings as well as some excellent resources for vocations and discernment in the notes section and also on our website, www.deaconrudysnotes.org https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/. Today, we remember in a special way all our bishops and our priests. But the challenge of the Scripture today applies to all in leadership roles over God’s flock, the Church.

First, who is the Church? John tells us today in Revelations Chapter 7, verse 9, that the Church is the “great multitude”. God swore to Abraham his descendants would be too numerous to count. And in the Church, as John sees, this promise is fulfilled.<1>

That’s an awesome image, right? But it can also be an overwhelming image too. I think its very easy to get lost in a big crowd and feel completely alone. Have you ever felt that way? My brothers and sisters, I have good news! Jesus tells us that he is our Shepherd and he will watch over us, so we are never alone. In today’s Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 100, verse 3, reminds us, “Know the Lord is God, he made us, we belong to him, we are his people, the flock he shepherds.”

Indeed, in today’s Gospel, John Chapter 10, verse 27, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” How does that work, exactly? How does he speak to me? Well, I think that in order to hear his voice, we need to stop talking! Right? How many of us in our prayers do all the talking and never pause for a second for the Holy Spirit to respond? I think if we listen, we can hear him speak to us at every Mass, through the Bible, through our pastors, through our parents, through our friends, through the events of our lives, and through his creation all around us. C.S. Lewis reminds us that, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, He speaks to us in our consciences, and He shouts to us in our pain!”

How many of us, I wonder, miss out on the hearing God’s voice or the angels’ song because we won’t quiet our minds or we can’t set aside the pressures of life that we often place upon ourselves? How can we ever really discern God’s will if we don’t hear his voice – if we don’t stop, drop and roll, as the Life Teen ministry suggests, follow the links at the bottom of this podcast notes for more information about that.

But God’s voice is not only for us. That’s why we, as disciples, are challenged to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, just like Paul and Barnabas in today’s second reading from Acts Chapter 13. They “were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit” and continued to preach to the Gentiles who welcomed them with delight (v. 48).

Our challenge is to become good shepherds and good sheep, good leaders and good followers.

Everyone who is entrusted with the care of others is a shepherd. So, our pastors, parents, teachers, doctors, nurses, government officials, etc. are all shepherds. We become good shepherds by loving those entrusted to us, praying for them, spending our time and talents for their benefit protecting them from physical and spiritual dangers. Parents must be especially careful of their duties to give their children good example through the way we live our Christian lives.

We are called to be good sheep – not passive, blind and dumb creatures – no! We are called to be actively good sheep. As sheep we are called to be part of the community – our local parish. There we hear and follow the voice of the shepherd through homilies, Bible classes, pastoral counseling, spiritual direction and advice. We receive from our pastors spiritual food by regular participation in the Holy Mass, by receiving the Sacraments, and by attending prayer services, renewal programs, and missions. We cooperate with our pastors by giving them positive suggestions for the good of the parish, by encouraging them in their duties, by lovingly offering them constructive criticism when they misstep, and by praying for them. We also should cooperate with our fellow parishioners in the activities of various councils, ministries and parish associations.

Together we are a good herd – a good church – when we continue the ministry of salvation begun by Jesus – when we reach out to the margins and share the Good News. God gives us Faith through Baptism, and then he strengthens that Faith in Confirmation. He supplies food for the journey in the Holy Eucharist and in His Divine Word through Scripture. He sanctifies our society through good and holy marriages and through the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life. May we foster a spirit of vocations in our families so that our children know they have options to serve the community as priests, deacons and consecrated religious brothers and sisters.

Our readings today offer us both comfort and challenge. The comforting message is that we are in the hands of the Good Shepherd. The challenge is that pastors and lay people alike should be good shepherds to those entrusted to their care.

Homework! I ask you to reflect on the following questions. I encourage you over the next week to pause at least once a day and consider these questions through your prayer and meditation:

  1. In what ways am I a good shepherd and in what ways must I improve?
  2. In what ways am I a good sheep and how can I be a better, more active part of the community?
  3. And our bonus challenge today is: May we pray for those discerning God’s call to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! May Almighty God bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit. +Amen!

Notes
<1> Compare Revelation 7:9; with Genesis 15:5.

Resources

  1. World Day of Prayer for Vocations https://www.worlddayofprayerforvocations.com/
  2. Pope France Message for the 2019 World Day of Vocations
    http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/vocations/documents/papa-francesco_20190131_56-messaggio-giornata-mondiale-vocazioni.html
  3. USCCB World Day of Prayer for Vocations http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/world-day-of-prayer-for-vocations.cfm
  4. USCCB Discernment Tools http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/vocations/discernment-tools.cfm
  5. 3 Steps for Discernment by Life Teen: Stop, Drop and Roll https://lifeteen.com/blog/discernment-in-3-easy-steps/
  6. Fr. Mike Schmitz 4 Helpful Rules for Discernment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne8n-1ATd1s&vl=en
  7. Bishop Robert Barron How Should I Discern the Priesthood? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdxYHfExkfo