Word to the Wise
Thursday, September 7, 2023 - Thursday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[Col 1:9-14 and Luke 5:1-11]From the day we heard about you, we do not cease praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God's will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, so as to be fully pleasing, in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy giving thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. [Colossians]
That is one very long sentence in the Letter to the Colossians. Although scripture scholars argue about who really wrote it, the church decided it is inspired scripture and the prayer in Chapter One is inspiring, even if exhausting to read in one glance! Over and over again in my pastoral experience, especially in campus ministry, I have heard the wish from a student trying to decide about vocation/career: "I just want to do God's will!" My general response is that God has given us each the raw materials to be happy and the broad guidelines for using them appropriately. The rest is up to us. Worrying about whether it is God's will that one should be a doctor, or lawyer or mechanic or nurse or school teacher isn't going to get us very far in the discernment process. When I was struggling as a college student with the unwelcome interruption in my plans to become a lawyer by the idea of religious life, I finally realized that the only way I could be sure was to try it. Well.....I'm still at it. In God's providence, I was able to go back to law school after ordination!
The existence of such people as "career counselors" might be a possible indication of God's help for those struggling with big decisions about the future, But most of us aren't going to have a dramatic call like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah or even Peter in today's gospel. "Option-fatigue" can be exasperating. Many will go through different "careers" before they discover their "vocation," which has been there all the time. What we pray for is that spiritual wisdom and understanding which God provides to help us decide who to be and what to do. AMEN