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Priesthood is responding to a calling.
Friday, July 4, 2014 1:33
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Priesthood is responding to a calling.
“Do not be afraid to give your life to Christ! Nothing will ever replace the ministry of priests at the heart of the Church! Nothing will ever replace a Mass for the salvation of the world! Dear young and not so young who are listening to me, do not leave Christ's call unanswered.” — Pope Benedict XVI
Fear of the unknown is a very real part of a life experience. I loved Dr Who in the early days when the fear would be the suspense of impending monsters, what if these monsters were hiding around the corner in my own room? Hiding behind the sofa was a way of avoiding the monsters advancing. Fear strikes from an early age in life and rears its stifling objections on many parts on the journey of life. From tightly holding the hand of Mum before being pushed into the reception class at school, to seeking reassurance that monsters are not real, only an invention of fear. Fear can be built up and become a distraction when making important decisions in life. The monsters rear their ugly heads and say what if it all goes wrong? What if I won’t fit in? What if I get hurt? What if………a mantra that indulges fear and massages its ego and keeps it a force in the world. Fear can be overcome as easily as turning a light switch. To understand that the darkness can be vanquished in an instance, is a part of growing and part of trusting too. To overcome fear a healthy dose of trust is required on our parts. Lord I am not and never will be worthy to have you under my roof, but your word will heal me, your word will be the nurturing principle of my living!
Fear can become a panic in discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Fear can be diminished by trust: “What if’s” can be replaced with “I trust.” Trust, is an antidote to fear when discerning and sustaining a vocation to the priesthood. Trust is a reliance upon Christ: his guiding spirit will fill the gaps, evaporate the fear, supply the inspiration, afford the hope and keep the feet firmly on the path of a worthwhile calling.
Christ is calling men to the priesthood today as he has been in every generation. Fear is no obstacle to answering that call because trust trumps fear every time!
People ask me often what was the call like? Did you hear a voice in your head! Not a voice as much as slow dawning of an idea and a future. A realisation of a understanding that service walks hand in hand with the gospel. A feeling that fulfilment in my life and its meaning would come from saying yes to Christ. A resolve to discern his path by seeking his ways.
The call for me was a nagging prompting to seek Christ above all things, including ambition, money, career and relationships. I sum up my call to the priesthood as: “An evolving desire to walk in the shoes of the Master… while holding his hand tightly.”
Source: http://humblepiety.blogspot.com/2014/07/priesthood-is-responding-to-calling.html
“Fear of the unknown is a very real part of a life experience.”
Who are you talking about, yourself? If so I feel really sorry for you, because disease isn’t spelled dis-ease for no reason.
Fearing the unknown = afraid of nothing. It means your imagination is full of darkness and monsters.