杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

杏MAP导航 Francis begins his message by recalling a letter he wrote last year in which he chose four key words 鈥� pain, gratitude, encouragement, and praise 鈥� as a way of 鈥渢hanking priests and supporting their ministry鈥�.  

Today, he says, those same words can 鈥渂e addressed to the whole people of God鈥�, alongside a passage from Matthew鈥檚 Gospel that recounts the 鈥渞emarkable experience of Jesus and Peter during a stormy night on the Sea of Galilee鈥� (cf. Mt 14:22-33). 杏MAP导航 Francis says, 鈥淎fter the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus told his disciples to get into the boat and precede Him to the other shore, while hHe took leave of the people鈥�. He explains: 鈥淭he image of the disciples crossing the lake can evoke our own life鈥檚 journey鈥�:

The boat of our lives slowly advances, restlessly looking for a safe haven and prepared to face the perils and promises of the sea, yet at the same time trusting that the helmsman will ultimately keep us on the right course.  At times, though, the boat can drift off course, misled by mirages, not the lighthouse that leads it home, and be tossed by the tempests of difficulty, doubt and fear.

Something similar happens to those who, called to follow the Teacher of Nazareth, have to undertake a crossing and abandon their own security to become the Lord鈥檚 disciples, says the 杏MAP导航. However the Gospel reminds us that 鈥渋n the midst of this challenging journey we are not alone鈥�.

Gratitude

Francis begins with the word 鈥榞ratitude鈥�, which he says 鈥渋s the first word of vocation鈥�.

鈥淗ow we find fulfilment in life is more than a decision we make as isolated individuals; above all else, it is a response to a call from on high鈥�, he says.

Returning to the metaphor of the boat he explains:

The Lord points out our destination on the opposite shore and he grants us the courage to board the boat.  In calling us, he becomes our helmsman; he accompanies and guides us; he prevents us from running aground on the shoals of indecision and even enables us to walk on surging waters鈥�.

Every vocation is born from the Love of the Lord, says the 杏MAP导航, and 鈥渨e will succeed in discovering and embracing our vocation once we open our hearts in gratitude and perceive the passage of God in our lives鈥�.

Encouragment

When the disciples see Jesus walking towards them on the sea, they first think that He is a ghost and are filled with fear, says the 杏MAP导航. Jesus immediately reassures them, saying: 鈥淭ake heart, it is I; have no fear鈥� (Mt 14:27).  鈥淭his, then, is the second word I wish to offer you: 别苍肠辞耻谤补驳别尘别苍迟鈥�.  

Often, says 杏MAP导航 Francis, 鈥渃ertain 鈥榞hosts鈥� that trouble our hearts鈥� hinder our journeys. When we are called to leave safe shores and embrace a state of life 鈥� like marriage, ministerial priesthood, consecrated life 鈥� our first reaction is often from the 鈥済host of disbelief鈥�.  鈥淪urely, this vocation is not for me!  Can this really be the right path?  Is the Lord really asking me to do this?鈥�   

Courage

The Lord knows that these fundamental life choices call for courage, says the 杏MAP导航. He knows the doubts we face and so He reassures us with those words: 鈥淭ake heart, it is I; have no fear!鈥�  We know in faith that He is present and comes to meet us, that He is ever at our side even amid stormy seas, he says. This knowledge, adds the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渟ets us free from the interior discouragement that hold us back from experiencing the beauty of our vocation鈥�. 

Fatigue

Moving onto the third word, the 杏MAP导航 explains that what he called 鈥榩ain鈥� in his letter last year, this year he is translating as 鈥榝atigue鈥�.

With every call comes responsibility, he says.  The Lord鈥檚 call places our lives at the service of the Gospel, 鈥測et, like Saint Peter, our desire and enthusiasm coexist with our failings and fears鈥�, he adds.

鈥淲henever fatigue or fear make us start to sink, Jesus holds out His hand to us. He gives us the enthusiasm we need to live our vocation with joy and fervour鈥�, says the 杏MAP导航:

When Jesus at last boards the boat, the winds die down and the waves are calmed.  Here we have a beautiful image of what the Lord can do at times of turbulence and tempest in our lives.  He stills those winds, so that the forces of evil, fear, and resignation no longer have power over us. 

Jesus is at our side, says the 杏MAP导航, and if we acknowledge Him as the one Lord of our lives, He will stretch out His hand, take hold of us and save us. 

Promote vocations

The 杏MAP导航 concludes by asking the Church, 鈥渙n this day in particular, but also in the ordinary pastoral life of our communities鈥� to 鈥渃ontinue to promote vocations鈥�. 

He says, 鈥渕ay she touch the hearts of the faithful and enable each of them to discover with gratitude God鈥檚 call in their lives, to find courage to say 鈥榶es鈥� to God, to overcome all weariness through faith in Christ, and to make of their lives a song of praise for God, for their brothers and sisters, and for the whole world鈥�.