Next month the church celebrates World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I am a young adult who doesn’t have a clue as to my vocation. How do I discern what my vocation is in life?
When we are young, how often do we hear, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” Whatever we become should ultimately lead us to our true goal—to be a saint, to dwell with the Trinity in the life to come. The Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (Lumen Gentium) states that the primary vocation for all Christians is the call to holiness declaring, “Fortified by so many and such powerful means of salvation, all the faithful, whatever their condition or state, are called by the Lord, each in his own way, to that perfect holiness whereby the Father Himself is perfect” (11). So, this is the first clue in helping us to discern our vocation, our calling in life.
What will challenge me to live a holy life?
Living a holy life is beyond our capability of just trying hard enough and succeeding. It requires supernatural intervention; it requires the Lord’s grace to strengthen us against temptation and sin and to give us the means to live out our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God. The love that God has for each one of us provides the means for living out our call to holiness. To help us, God calls us to observe a life of holiness through the aid of a specific vocation in the church.
Because each of us plays a part in God’s plan for salvation, we are created with particular gifts and talents to assist us and others along the way. Knowing our gifts can begin to reveal how we are called to use them for the good. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Knowing us and why we are placed on this earth, Christ is the origin of our vocation. Therefore, the first step in knowing our vocation is to encounter Jesus through prayer and enter a relationship with him. Prayer is essential in discerning one’s calling. If we want to know our vocation, we must first know and trust Christ.
Jesus questions the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). Peter finally answers, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (16:16). Who Jesus is—the Messiah—will dictate what he will do, how He will live out his vocation as redeemer of the world. In the same way, who we are called to be will dictate how we will live out our vocation. In prayer, we begin with the same question, “Jesus, who do you say that I am, and to what vocation do you invite me?”
Love is at the heart of any vocation—love for the Lord, love for others. Another important question to ask is, “How am I called to love and be loved?” Each of us is called to experience love. Some are called to love through one person, one family. Others may be called to love through a community—religious or a church parish.
The world can encourage us to ask the question, “What is going to make me happy in life?” Perhaps a better question is, “What is going to fulfill me in life?” Happiness is a feeling that can be superficial, but fulfillment gives a person deep satisfaction and sustains oneself even in the midst of difficulties, which are not known to make one happy.
With so many different questions to which we seek answers, we then must listen to the Lord’s voice speaking to our heart. However, the world is a noisy place. There are so many things vying for our attention, distracting us. Truly to hear his voice, we are called to spend time with the Lord in a quiet place for prayer— whether at home, outside or before the Blessed Sacrament in a church or chapel. Before the Lord entered into any important ministry, he would go away to a quiet place to pray to the Father. Perhaps participating in a retreat would be beneficial. Beginning spiritual direction with a priest or someone trained in the spiritual exercises is also helpful in listening and discerning God’s calling in a noisy world.
Finally, fear can stop us from even asking the questions because the answers might not be what we expect or want. “Do not be afraid.” The Lord uses these same words throughout the Gospels to encourage others. Do not be afraid to ask the Lord and listen. He wants to reveal to us how we are a part of his plan for salvation, our vocation. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
In prayer, in conversation with the Lord, we will come to discern God’s calling to married life, consecrated religious life, diaconate, priesthood, or a life singularly dedicated to serving the Lord and his people. We will know which is our vocation when peace dwells in the heart, because that is where we will hear Him. “Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way?” (Luke 24:32).