Vocations – Call to You – Are you listening?

Eparchy of Newton  ~  Vocation Office
www.melkite.org/vocations
vocations@melkite.org

Vocations, the word itself comes from the Latin, vocare…to call. “By Baptism, Chrismation and the Eucharist, each of us is called to be a prophet (to know God and understand His will), a king (to rule over the creation which is given to us by God) and a priest (offering all things back to our Creator and Master in love). We are all called to be stewards over God’s creation and to work within His community”.

Each of us has been created out of love of the Creator. Each has given gifts of talent by Him. To give them back to Him in the best and fullest way possible is the ideal. To be open to divine inspiration like persons throughout history is to accept His charge to bless the world in which we live and assist in bringing all to Him in the spreading of His kingdom here on earth.

“Father Alexander Schmemann noted in this vein that “To be a priest is, from a profound point of view, the most natural thing in the world. Man was created priest of the world, the one who offers the world to God in a sacrifice of love and praise and who, through this eternal eucharist, bestows the divine love upon the world.”

If all would understand what has been infused in us from the beginning, we would at once be eager to respond in unison and to offer the world, His gift to us, back to Him in a more blessed and sanctified manner.

Christ, the new Adam, restored the fallen nature of humanity and gave back to His father. We are sharers in the work of Christ. We are mandated to place our hands in His and work together towards bringing all to the Godhead. We are to be leaders, inspirers, healers, consolers and sanctifiers.

As Christ is the Bridegroom of the Church, “Priesthood, in this sense, is the very essence of manhood, man’s creative relation to the ‘womanhood’ of the created world.” (For the Life of the World). When we choose to take hold of the world for our own use, we fail to respond to the call f fostering a relationship with God.

The various ministries and roles of service are ways and avenues that we can all function within the Church. Through the administering of the Mysteries (Sacraments) of Holy Illumination and Christian Initiation, gifts were given to us as infants or adults, depending on when we became fully sons and daughters of God.

The Church needs these gifts. The Church needs you. Perhaps God is calling you to one of these ministries. Gifts are not lacking. We all have them. Are we listening? Have we heard His call? Are we open and willing to respond to the call?

Your priest will be the best person to go to and ask to help us find the avenue by which our priesthood can be fulfilled. Don’t hesitate. God and your priest are waiting.

(Quotations taken from the pamphlet “Your Priesthood”)