Instead of “Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, Oh my!” as was said/sung by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz, we have our own excitement here at Prince of Peace this weekend. I would sum it all up on the category of “vocation”. A vocation is a calling from God.
May 8th is declared by the Universal Church to be the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I believe the day might have been chosen because the Sunday Gospel is always from Jesus’s “Good Shepherd” discourse, John chapter 10. A shepherd serves and protects the flock. In our gospel, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.” Therefore, vocations are about hearing the voice of Jesus, following Him, and they yield eternal life.
For the life of the Church, we need holy vocations. We do need more priests. There is so much more we could and should be doing if only we had more priests to labor for the harvest. It is such a great and noble vocation and in such need. All young men should seriously consider it and pray about it. In addition, we need more vocations to consecrated life—both brothers and sisters in religious life. The charisms of prayer and service and witness are desperately needed in our world. I personally believe the health and life of the church are very connected to consecrated life. We also need holy deacons, and we got some here at Prince of Peace! I need to officially introduce a new-to-us “gently used” deacon, Deacon Dan Ondracek, who moved from Topeka to Olathe a few months ago and has settled in at POP. His official assignment here should be coming out any day, and I promise to get a bio in the bulletin soon and keep trying to introduce him at future Masses.
This Sunday is also Mother’s Day. Also, what an incredibly beautiful and important vocation! Mothers bring life into the world and nurture that life. Thank you to all our mothers and for all the love and sacrifice you live each day.
This Monday, May 9th, will be the Confirmation Mass for POP’s 8th graders. Please pray for them. The Sacrament of Confirmation completes initiation (along with Baptism and Eucharist). But in particular we highlight the power of the Holy Spirit and His gifts so that the confirmed go out into the world and live the faith boldly! That is a vocation too—God is calling us to holiness and witness. So, lots going on here this weekend, and a great need for prayer! I’ll tack on a prayer from the USCCB for vocations.
Peace,
Fr. Greg
O God, Father of all Mercies,
Provider of a bountiful Harvest,
send Your Graces upon those
You have called to gather the fruits of Your labor;
preserve and strengthen them in their lifelong service of you.
Open the hearts of Your children
that they may discern Your Holy Will;
inspire in them a love and desire to surrender themselves
to serving others in the name of Your son, Jesus Christ.
Teach all Your faithful to follow their respective paths in life
guided by Your Divine Word and Truth.
Through the intercession of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary,
all the Angels, and Saints, humbly hear our prayers
and grant Your Church's needs, through Christ, our Lord. Amen.