Vocation Talk III

In wrapping up this series on vocations, it's important to acknowledge that God's call is a mystery that unfolds over time.  There may be a moment when we get a flash of recognition that points out for us the direction we should go.  But if we actually sit down and think about our life we can see how the Lord was preparing us for that moment of decision.  Some people don't get there because they've never been open to this idea that God is calling them to something.  Perhaps they've never had guides or mentors to help them.  Maybe they simply have never been evangelized properly.  It could be that they've accepted uncritically "the spirit of  the world" that tells us that our lives really have no meaning beyond what we decide as individuals; there is no need to reference anything or anybody outside ourselves, let alone God.  Worse yet are those who try to turn someone away from following a vocation, especially to the religious life or priesthood.  There may be the need to ask a person to wait before actually entering a formation program, especially if there are questions of maturity involved.  But to try to sabotage a vocation is a grave offense.  It is a denial that the vocation is God's, not ours, and needs to be treated like a gift that should not be obstructed, rejected or ignored.

While those who maliciously hinder someone from following their vocation have put themselves in a grave moral situation, those who have the call also have a responsibility to be open to where God is leading them.  This gets us back to my original point from the first post on this topic.  It is true that Don Bosco's belief that those who do not follow their vocation are going to Hell is extreme, and not the way we would present the issue today.  At the same time I'm not sure we haven't given in a little to the "spirit of the world' I wrote of above.  It's popular today to say that if we don't follow God's "Plan A" there's always a "Plan B."  God is merciful and will never abandon us to a miserable existence, but gives us all the opportunities we need to be happy in this life and be with him forever in the next, even if we don't do what he asked of us the first time around.

I don't disagree with this proposition, actually.  I do believe that God gives us more chances in life than we realize, even if we don't follow His so called "Plan A."  But our spiritual journey involves surrender to God's will.  This means that we put aside our own desires, wants and aspirations, pick up our cross and follow Christ where He leads us.  In doing this we end up fulfilling ourselves and using those gifts and talents we've received in a deeper way than if we had followed our own desires.  But if we say no to God the first time, will we have the spiritual wherewithal to say yes to "Plan B," "C" or even "D"?  It doesn't matter what we opt for, in the end life in Christ means self denial and submission to His will.  If we fail to do that then the question we need to ask is what kind of purgation are we preparing for ourselves.  If "No" has become the default position of our lives, than yes, I believe the eternal consequences may be even worse than a stretch in purgatory.

I have to state clearly that I reject any proposition that turns salvation into a formula and doesn't allow for God's mercy to breath.  I reject any doctrine that says "If you do A, B or C Heaven awaits, and if you do D, E or F Hell is a certainty." God's grace and mercy is greater than any theological formula.  But if we have set our lives on a course away from God's will we put ourselves in grave danger. The farther we move away from God the more difficult it is to steer ourselves back.  The more we become use to doing our own will without reference to a Divine call or standard the more it becomes a habit that proves harder and harder to break.  We may not always perceive God's call perfectly.  We may not even fulfill it perfectly.  We may have to struggle with pride and selfishness as we grope along the path of life.  But as long was we are moving with God, in the right direction, He will lead us home safely.  As long as we remain attentive and open, then we will be ready to see the other possibilities he has in store if we did pass on God's primary vocation for us.  But no matter the road we end up walking, it will always lead through Calvary first before bringing us to the Empty Tomb.