What is a Vocation?
The word vocation comes from the Latin vocare – to call. In baptism each person is called by God to follow Jesus in a life of holiness and service. This call may be lived out in different vocations: in marriage, as a single person, or as a priest, brother or sister. You may feel that God has spoken to you directly in some spectacular way, but this does not happen to many people. For most of us the journey is long and slow and is often the result of prayer and thought. It may even be rather tentative and you may feel that you need to know more.
Do any of the following statements apply to you?
- Because I have a growing awareness of God’s great love for me, I
want to love and serve him more than I do now. - I think God is asking me to serve him, not only in my personal life,
but in the practical giving of all that I am. - I do not wish to separate myself from the world, but to find God in
the routine of day to day living and daily work. - I want to be a living sign of Christ’s presence in the world.
- I want everyone I meet to be aware of Christ working in everybody
and everything.
If so, the Church offers a special way of life to groups of dedicated lay people. You may find what you are searching for in the Leaven.
Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use in the proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervour, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practise hospitality.
Romans 12:4-