December 2017

God's Gift to the World

The world has been given by our Loving Creator a great gift, a person. This person was born under very humble circumstances, but destined for great things - to change people’s lives in a dramatic way, helping them to turn back to God.

Of course, this person is obviously Jesus Christ...except He’s not the person I am speaking about. The person is you. Needless to say, Jesus is an exceedingly greater gift to the world, but the opening statement is nonetheless true for you, and for each person who ever has or will exist.

Consider that you were born under humble circumstances — subject to the influence of Original Sin, with all of the physical and spiritual infirmities that go along with it, in an imperfect situation, possibly in material poverty even.

Consider that you are also destined for great things — to turn the hearts of sons and daughters back to the Father, to effect conversion in this world so that more souls may be brought to heaven. Is there any greater work than this? And yet each one of us is called to this work, participating in the same work started by our Lord so long ago when He was conceived in the Virgin’s womb. There can be no question that each one of us is a great gift to the world.

Your incorporation into Christ and His mission is not just a gift to those lives you will affect, but a gift to you. Beginning with your baptism, you have had His grace poured into your soul, making you more like Him, and helping you to discover your particular purpose in His plan. This discovery of your vocation is like an unwrapping of the gift, though sometimes very protracted as we work through youth to know and understand it. The living of your vocation, your special participation in God’s plan of salvation, is the enjoyment of the gift.

This may seem contrary to how you view a vocation. Living as a Catholic, devoted to whatever vocation you may have, may seem daunting, full of trial and sacrifice. But if this is how you view a vocation, you should look at it from the perspective of the goodness which comes from living according to God’s plan. There is no better way to gain peace and real joy than the discovery and faithful living of your vocation, bringing yourself and others to the perfect life of Heaven. While vocation certainly entails difficulty (what life doesn’t?), the beauty of this gift is that it imparts the happiness of being a son or daughter of God. No other life can give this ultimate happiness.

As you celebrate Christmas and the wonderful gift of our Savior, contemplate also the amazing gift that your calling from God is, both to you and the world. It would be a shame not to unwrap this gift by working to discover your vocation, and then to enjoy the gift by living it with your whole heart.

Thank you for taking the time to consider your vocation. Be open with God, and He will bless you greatly!

If you would like to talk about your vocation, give me a call or send me an email.

Rev. J.D. Jaffe
Vocation Director
Catholic Diocese of Arlington
Office of Vocations
(703) 841-2514
vocations@arlingtondiocese.org
www.ArlingtonVocations.org
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