Pope Francis: "Listen and follow Jesus" for Day of Prayer for Vocations
January 16, 2014: Pope Francis invites young people to “listen to and follow Jesus,
and to allow yourselves to be transformed interiorly by his words” in his message
for the occasion of the 51st World day of Prayer for Vocations which is
to be observed on the May 11, 2014.
The purpose of the World Day of Prayer
for Vocations is to publically fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of
the harvest to send laborers into his harvest". As a climax to a prayer that is continually
offered throughout the Church, it affirms the primacy of faith and grace in all that
concerns vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life. While appreciating
all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the
ordained ministries, to the Religious life in all its forms (male and female, contemplative
and apostolic), to societies of apostolic life, to secular institutes in their diversity
of services and membership, and to the missionary life, in the particular sense of
mission.
“A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual
love that becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life,”
writes Pope Francis. “No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation
flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the
experience of fraternal love,” says Pope Francis
“Every vocation, even within
the variety of paths, always requires an exodus from oneself in order to centre one’s
life on Christ and on his Gospel. Both in married life and in the forms of religious
consecration, as well as in priestly life, we must surmount the ways of thinking and
acting that do not conform to the will of God”. It is an “exodus that leads us on
a journey of adoration of the Lord and of service to him in our brothers and sisters”.
Full message here below:
Vocations, Witness to the Truth Dear Brothers
and Sisters, 1. The Gospel says that “Jesus went about all the cities and villages...
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest
is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to
send out labourers into his harvest’” (Mt 9:35-38). These words surprise us, because
we all know that it is necessary first to plow, sow and cultivate to then, in due
time, reap an abundant harvest. Jesus says instead that “the harvest is plentiful”.
But who did the work to bring about these results? There is only one answer: God.
Clearly the field of which Jesus is speaking is humanity, us. And the efficacious
action which has borne “much fruit” is the grace of God, that is, communion with Him
(cf. Jn 15:5). The prayer which Jesus asks of the Church therefore concerns the need
to increase the number of those who serve his Kingdom. Saint Paul, who was one of
“God’s fellow workers”, tirelessly dedicated himself to the cause of the Gospel and
the Church. The Apostle, with the awareness of one who has personally experienced
how mysterious God’s saving will is, and how the initiative of grace is the origin
of every vocation, reminds the Christians of Corinth: “You are God’s field” (1 Cor
3:9). That is why wonder first arises in our hearts over the plentiful harvest which
God alone can bestow; then gratitude for a love that always goes before us; and lastly,
adoration for the work that he has accomplished, which requires our free consent in
acting with him and for him. 2. Many times we have prayed with the words of the
Psalmist: “It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep
of his pasture” (Ps 100:3); or: “The Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as
his own possession” (Ps 135:4). And yet we are God’s “possession” not in the sense
of a possession that renders us slaves, but rather of a strong bond that unites us
to God and one another, in accord with a covenant that is eternal, “for his steadfast
love endures for ever” (Ps 136). In the account of the calling of the prophet Jeremiah,
for example, God reminds us that he continually watches over each one of us in order
that his word may be accomplished in us. The image is of an almond branch which is
the first tree to flower, thus announcing life’s rebirth in the springtime (cf Jer
1:11-12). Everything comes from him and is his gift: the world, life, death, the present,
the future, but — the Apostle assures us — “you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s”
(1 Cor 3:23). Hence the way of belonging to God is explained: it comes about through
a unique and personal relationship with Jesus, which Baptism confers on us from the
beginning of our rebirth to new life. It is Christ, therefore, who continually summons
us by his word to place our trust in him, loving him “with all the heart, with all
the understanding, and with all the strength” (Mk 12:33). Therefore every vocation,
even within the variety of paths, always requires an exodus from oneself in order
to centre one’s life on Christ and on his Gospel. Both in married life and in the
forms of religious consecration, as well as in priestly life, we must surmount the
ways of thinking and acting that do not conform to the will of God. It is an “exodus
that leads us on a journey of adoration of the Lord and of service to him in our brothers
and sisters” (Address to the International Union of Superiors General, 8 May 2013).
Therefore, we are all called to adore Christ in our hearts (1 Pet 3:15) in order to
allow ourselves to be touched by the impulse of grace contained in the seed of the
word, which must grow in us and be transformed into concrete service to our neighbour.
We need not be afraid: God follows the work of his hands with passion and skill in
every phase of life. He never abandons us! He has the fulfilment of his plan for us
at heart, and yet he wishes to achieve it with our consent and cooperation. 3.
Today too, Jesus lives and walks along the paths of ordinary life in order to draw
near to everyone, beginning with the least, and to heal us of our infirmities and
illnesses. I turn now to those who are well disposed to listen to the voice of Christ
that rings out in the Church and to understand what their own vocation is. I invite
you to listen to and follow Jesus, and to allow yourselves to be transformed interiorly
by his words, which “are spirit and life” (Jn 6:62). Mary, the Mother of Jesus and
ours, also says to us: “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). It will help you to participate
in a communal journey that is able to release the best energies in you and around
you. A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that
becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life. No vocation
is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and
blossoms in the good soil of faithful people, in the experience of fraternal love.
Did not Jesus say: “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another” (Jn 13:35)? 4. Dear brothers and sisters, this “high standard
of ordinary Christian living” (cf John Paul II, Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio Ineunte,
31) means sometimes going against the tide and also encountering obstacles, outside
ourselves and within ourselves. Jesus himself warns us: the good seed of God’s word
is often snatched away by the Evil one, blocked by tribulation, and choked by worldly
cares and temptation (cf Mt 13:19-22). All of these difficulties could discourage
us, making us fall back on seemingly more comfortable paths. However, the true joy
of those who are called consists in believing and experiencing that he, the Lord,
is faithful, and that with him we can walk, be disciples and witnesses of God’s love,
open our hearts to great ideals, to great things. “We Christians were not chosen by
the Lord for small things; push onwards toward the highest principles. Stake your
lives on noble ideals!” (Homily at Holy Mass and the Conferral of the Sacrament of
Confirmation, 28 April 2013). I ask you bishops, priests, religious, Christian communities
and families to orient vocational pastoral planning in this direction, by accompanying
young people on pathways of holiness which, because they are personal, “call for a
genuine ‘training in holiness’ capable of being adapted to every person’s need. This
training must integrate the resources offered to everyone with both the traditional
forms of individual and group assistance, as well as the more recent forms of support
offered in associations and movements recognized by the Church” (Novo Millennio Ineunte,
31). Let us dispose our hearts therefore to being “good soil”, by listening, receiving
and living out the word, and thus bearing fruit. The more we unite ourselves to Jesus
through prayer, Sacred Scripture, the Eucharist, the Sacraments celebrated and lived
in the Church and in fraternity, the more there will grow in us the joy of cooperating
with God in the service of the Kingdom of mercy and truth, of justice and peace. And
the harvest will be plentiful, proportionate to the grace we have meekly welcomed
into our lives. With this wish, and asking you to pray for me, I cordially impart
to you all my Apostolic Blessing. From the Vatican, 15 January 2014