Newton Basumatari csc.
Readings: 1 Sam 9: 1-4, 17-19; 10: 1a; Mk 2: 13-17
Our vocation is God’s gift, not something earned or the result of our own efforts. Jesus calls individuals according to his will, regardless of their personal histories. However, receiving God’s grace for salvation requires a crucial step: recognizing ourselves as sinners in need of God’s merciful redemption.
The readings today, highlighting the calls of Samuel and Levi, serve as impressive reminders of our own vocations and God’s compassionate love. During Pope Francis’ address on the World Day of Prayer for Vocations, he asserted that our vocation involves realizing God’s dream. As Christians, we all receive a calling from God.
For those in religious and clergy vocations, this may entail embodying the life of Christ through adherence to the three evangelical counsels. For the others, it could mean remaining steadfast in the chosen professions. We must reflect on how we can actualize God’s dream within our families, communities, workplaces, and interactions with others.
Achieving this involves understanding and accepting each other’s weaknesses and limitations, treating one another as brothers and sisters, and facilitating experiences of God’s merciful love through prayer. By living out our vocations faithfully, we contribute to making God’s dream a reality.