Every year the
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord kicks off a week of
Vocations Awareness. This week is not only about priestly and religious vocations. It is about an understanding of vocation in
each of our lives.
The message is found in the Church’s baptismal theology. In and through the waters of baptism God calls us, invites us, even commands us to proclaim him every where we go, in every way possible. This is not a casual or back burner matter. Reflect on what Jesus’ baptism was all about! It was the beginning of His public ministry. As He said it, “I will bring good news to the poor, release to prisoners, sight to the blind, and proclaim a year of God’s favor.”
Our baptism is no less than our initiation into public ministry. Our baptism emphatically states that we have been empowered to “go out” into the world as Christ. Christ graces us at baptism to carry on His work in the world, not to sit back and wallow in His grace. We are people of “mission” (sent out). Our response to the gift of baptism and all that it does within us and to us is to serve others and bring Christ to others. Neither a married person nor a single person is any less “called” to mission than a nun, priest or deacon. We all are called to be “transmitters” of God’s love. That is the
vocation of each one of us. So the vocation awareness called for this week is an awareness of our
own vocation. We need to point out to others God and God’s love. That is the meaning and essential purpose of our life, no matter who we are. I invite you to pray about fulfilling your vocation in thought, word and deed.