VOCATION VIEWS - Give me water that I may never get thirsty
Reflections for your weekly parish bulletin Following Cycle B of the Liturgical Year. (2009 is Year B)

First Sunday of Advent - B
A VOCATION VIEW: It's Advent; almost Christmas! A Season of dreams come true. Be on guard. The Lord may call you to follow Him.

Second Sunday of Advent - B
A VOCATION VIEW: The cry of the people: "Lord, let us see your kindness". Who will prepare the way of the Lord coming to us today?

Third Sunday of Advent - B
A VOCATION VIEW: There was a man ___________ sent by God, who came as a witness to testify to the Light, so that through this person all people might believe. Is your name in the Gospel today?

Fourth Sunday of Advent - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Every person who has ever born a child, and every person who has freely vowed away this honour, helps in some mysterious way to bring Jesus Christ into this world again. Can you say: "Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord"?

Christmas                                                                                                                                                         A VOCATION VIEW: Christmas the promised fulfilled. God comes to dwell among His people. Before the Second Coming of Jesus, the world needs people like you to continue His work. Are you ready?

Holy Family - B
A VOCATION VIEW: The Old Law said that every first born male shall be dedicated to the Lord. Is there a priest, deacon, brother, or sister from your family? Now is the time for families to encourage a vocation!

Epiphany - A,B or C
A VOCATION VIEW: Even gift bearing kings, accompanied by camels and servants, went to visit Jesus Christ. You, come and follow Him. Take the Good News back to your people: Jesus is Lord of all.

Baptism of Our Lord                                                                                                                                           A VOCATION VIEW: No one is humanly worthy to be a priest, deacon, sister or brother. No one is worthy to stoop and untie the sandal straps of Jesus. But He still calls us and favours us to do His work. Will you serve?

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time                                                                                                                        A VOCATION VIEW: A good Vocation prayer to say everyday, from the time we are ten years old till we are ninety years old, is found in today's first Scripture Reading: 'Speak, Lord for your servant is listening.' Just try it with sincerity starting today.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Even a great person like Jonah turned away, at first, from what God called him to do. It is never too late to hear the Lord say, 'Come, follow Me.'

Presentation of the Lord                                                                                                                                    A VOCATION VIEW: Like Simeon and the prophetess Anna, who served God day and night in His temple, will you dare bear radical witness to Christ Jesus as His priest, consecrated brother or sister?

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: The afflicted Job in the Old Testament thinks that his life is like dust in the wind; his restlessness depicting the sorrow and sadness afflicting society today. Are we prepared for the task ahead? To heal the broken-hearted, to bind up all their wounds? How do you choose to respond?

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Today's Gospel says that: "Jesus was moved with pity, when He saw a leper." Are you moved with love or pity when you see the outcast of today's society. Who will come forward to minister Christ today?

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: In today's Gospel, people have difficulty believing that Jesus can forgive sins. Is God asking you to forgive the sins of His people as His ordained priest? Are you called to bring Good News to the poor? Say "yes" to God's call.

Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: With integrity and love, justice and tenderness, the Lord 'lures' His servants into His service. This service, under a new covenant, is blessed by the Spirit of God.

First Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Lent: the Springtime of the soul. A time to make a new covenant with God, develop new signs of our relationship with our Creator. Go into your own desert and discover your calling.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: If you need an example of a person responding to a vocational call, look at Abraham - called in old age to leave his country, father a child, then asked to sacrifice the child. What faith! Vocation is a risky response to a unique call from God.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Jesus cleaned out the temple of money changers. He was angry; He was zealous; He was authoritative. He was doing what He had to do, even though it involved risk, danger, insult and wonder. Such is a vocation.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: When we are 'born again' in baptism, we really become a new creation, fired with a new love, and aimed in a new direction - heaven. Let Jesus talk with you. Let Jesus challenge you.

Fifth Sunday of Lent - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Unless a seed first dries out and dies, it cannot be planted in the earth to grow. Unless we first dry out and die to our selfish ways, we can never expect to be people who will 'lay down their lives for their friends.'

Passion Sunday (Palm Sunday) - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is she who gives her life in the name of the Lord. Blessed are they who live their united life in the name of the Lord.

Easter Sunday - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Christ has become our Paschal Sacrifice. Your ultimate purpose, to live and to breathe, is the eternal Jesus. Go forth to announce to the world - Christ, our hope, has risen, Alleluia!

Second Sunday of Easter - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Easter: resurrection and new life; to be begotten by God. A new life, achieved from a conquered tomb. Meaning for life for people for thousands of years. Nothing more secure, nothing more lasting. "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you...".

Third Sunday of Easter - B
A VOCATION VIEW: What could convince someone to turn to God? That God became man and is the sacrifice that takes our sins away. Let us pray - Lord Jesus, make Your word plain to us and set our hearts on fire with love when You speak. Enable us to respond to the call to be witnesses of Your love.

Fourth Sunday of Easter - B
A VOCATION VIEW: This is World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The world needs worthy leaders, Good Shepherds of the 21st Century, caring unselfishly for the needs of God's people. Please, pray for Vocations.

Fifth Sunday of Easter - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Who shall come forward to explain the love God has for His people who should be one in faith? We need more faith-filled, prayerful and spirited people to make the Vine and the Branches One again. How about you?

Sixth Sunday of Easter - B
A VOCATION VIEW: God's love for us has been revealed: "Love one another as I have loved you. The world is in need to see people who are striving to love others with all their hearts. What about you?

Ascension - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Jesus said to his disciples 'Go into the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation.' There are still dark aspects to our world and to our neighbourhood that need the Good News. Answer the call to 'Go and teach all people my Gospel. I am with you always, until the end of time.'

Pentecost Sunday - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Be guided by the Holy Spirit, because with the Spirit comes, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self control. With God's help, come forward to proclaim to those who are searching for meaning in life. As the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.

Trinity Sunday - B
A VOCATION VIEW: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When we go out to make disciples of all nations we have a lot to tell. God is Lord in heaven above and on earth below. Having received the Spirit that make's you God's own children, you are called to proclaim "Glory to the Father, to the Son and the Holy Spirit: to God who is, who was and who is to come." Alleluia!

Corpus Christi - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Through the ministry of our ordained priests, we receive Holy Communion. Through the Body and Blood of Christ, we are made one body: to become Christ-like ... purified ... ready to serve. Pray for Vocations.

Peter and Paul - A, B or C
A VOCATION VIEW: Jesus commanded Peter: "feed my lambs … feed my sheep." May many young men heed the call of Christ Jesus to do the same as priests of the New Covenant. Let us pray the Lord to send labourers to His harvest.

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: There is a great need today to stand up for what we believe in. The Spirit of the Lord is upon you, He has sent you to bring Good News to the poor.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: In today's First Reading, Amos says he did not choose to be a prophet. God selected him. Maybe God is asking you to reconsider what you are doing and do His work instead.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: When the apostles were trying to reflect on their ministry, Jesus asked them to "come by yourselves to an out-of-the-way place." Listening to God in quiet prayer is very important in vocational discernment. Listen to God's voice in an out-of-the-way place.

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Today we are reminded by St Paul that there is one body, one Lord, one faith, one baptism. The challenge before us is to 'bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.' That is an essential part of our vocation: to lead a life worthy of these attributes.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: "I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thirst." 'Lord, send us priests after your own heart to give us the Food of everlasting life - Your very Self in the Eucharist.' Consider a call to the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: To taste and see the goodness of the Lord means to be drawn closer to God. "Try, then, to imitate God as children of His that He loves, and follow Christ by loving as He loved you." Be a presence of God's love in the world today. Do what you can to bring to life God's love.

Assumption - B
A VOCATION VIEW: A woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Hers is the most beautiful story of vocation, when Mary said, "Let it be done unto me according to thy will." Can you make the choice?

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                                                                                                    A VOCATION VIEW: John's Gospel reveals God's promise of the Word made flesh. This is revealed through the sacrifice made by Christ: "I am the living bread, come down from heaven ... the bread I give is my flesh for the life of the world ...". Do this in memory of Him.

Twenty - first Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Jesus teach us about life everlasting. "Your words Lord are spirit and life ..." It is this that gives us hope when we despair, a way of living when we stray from God's way. "The words I have spoken are spirit and they are life." It is God's words that we need to hear to lift our spirit and give life. Pray for vocations.

Twenty - second Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Thank God our struggles of faith can be ultimately overcome through prayer, perseverance and love. 'Do what the word tells you.' Be doers of the word.

Twenty - third Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Has not God chosen the poor of the world to inherit the kingdom? Chosen to be rich in faith. So take heart, be not afraid, consider your part in God's Kingdom.

Triumph of the Cross - A, B and C
A VOCATION VIEW: We do not promote an easy life. But then no life worth living is an easy life. Jesus said, "If you wish to come after me, you must deny your very self, take up your cross and follow me." Pray for the gift of being able to accept your vocation.

Twenty - fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: When Jesus says, "If you wish to rank first, you must remain the last one of all and the servant of all," many people could immediately turn and walk away. Are you willing to serve as Jesus did?

Twenty - sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Some people do not respond to God's call because they feel they are not worthy to do God's work. And they are not - nobody is! But still God calls. There is enough ministry for many more. Answer God's call.

Twenty - seventh Sunday of the Year - B
A VOCATION VIEW: The Christian Vocation has expression through marriage, single life, priesthood and consecrated life. Our call to holiness is to answer God's call to build the Kingdom of God. 'Let the little children come to me; ... for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs.'

Twenty - eighth Sunday of the Year - B
A VOCATION VIEW: If we really believe in something, it does not seem to be a sacrifice to give up everything else to pursue that one dream. Jesus asks for total dedication, promising in return rewards that no one else can promise: "Go and sell everything you own ... then come; follow me."

Twenty - ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: Life's rewards are tied up in the spirit of service. Just as the Son of Man came to give His life, so too are we then called through our profession of faith to serve others. Lord, we pray, 'let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You to do your will.'

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: 'Master grant that I may see'. The values we were blind to in our youth, now become clear. Blindness gives way to vision through faith in Jesus. As children of God, we are called to do good things, and to witness God's love.

All Souls - A, B and C
A VOCATION VIEW: We pray for the souls gone before us, priests, religious and lay - those who have taken their vocation of Christian service seriously. May the Lord's merciful love purify them completely, that they may look upon the face of God and rejoice forever. A Vocation dwells within us, with the powerful possibility to transform our own lives and make us saints.

Dedication of the Lateran Basilica - A, B and C
A VOCATION VIEW: The Lateran Basilica, the Cathedral of Rome, is a symbol of the unity of the Church. We are called to be apostles of unity, ourselves living in, and calling others to, communion with Christ in His Body, the Church. May we seek out opportunities to proclaim this message.

Thirty - third Sunday in Ordinary Time
A VOCATION VIEW: 'As I keep the Lord ever in my sight ... my heart rejoices, my soul is glad ... You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in Your presence.' Let our Vocation be, to be one with God - forever.

Christ the King - B
A VOCATION VIEW: Christ is King ... the faithful Witness. He loved us ... and made us a line of priests, prophets and kings to serve God His Father. Who are we to be called forth as the priests of tomorrow - prayerful men - leaders, ready to preach the Word of God.