17th July 2016 - Creating a Culture of Vocations - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This week's programme was the second of a two-part reflection on vocations. Last week we chatted about the universal call to holiness to which we are all called. This week we reflected on the particular vocations through which we can live out this universal call to holiness: marriage, priesthood, religious life and consecrated virginity (the dedicated single life). In particular we had a chat about the different ways in which we can all help to create a culture of vocations where each person is encouraged to listen to and respond generously to God's voice. You can listen to the full programme HERE.

Creating a Culture of Vocations
Our good friend of the programme Sr. Louise O'Rourke PDDM (you can follow Sr. Louise on Twitter HERE, friend her on Facebook HERE and read her blog Pilgrim Progress HERE) is doing great work in promoting a culture of vocations. You may remember reading a cross-post from Sr. Louise on whether it is too late to create a culture of vocations in Ireland today (HERE). The short answer is no! But it does require the concerted effort of each one of us.

We looked at the different personal vocations that each person is called to: married and family life, priesthood, religious life and consecrated virginity (dedicated single life) and spoke briefly about how there is a vocations crisis, not so much in numbers, but in the culture that surrounds us. There seems to be a fear of commitment, not just to priesthood and religious life, but to married life and consecrated virginity too. As a society, we are almost afraid to commit to anything or anyone. As one person put it to us recently: 'we have lost the love for the long-haul.'

So how do we go about creating a culture of vocations. Well its as easy as ABC... Okay maybe not 'easy,' but there are certainly many many ways we can all encourage vocations at home, in our communities and in our dioceses, especially in our families as Sr. Louise shares with us HERE. Do you pray for vocations from your own family, parish or diocese? Do you encourage those with particular God-given gifts and talents to consider married life or priesthood or religious life or consecrated virginity. The seeds we plant today will bear fruit tomorrow.  You can listen to our discussion on vocations excerpted from the programme HERE.

Gospel - Luke 10:38-42 - Mary and Martha

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 4; 16th week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

20 July – St. Apollinaris
21 July – St. Laurence of Brindisi
22 July – St. Mary Magdalene
23 July – St. Bridget of Sweden