Christifidelis Laici #55-56

Pope St. John Paul the Great wraps up the current chapter bringing together everything we have examined over the past three or four weeks: everyone has a vocation to holiness, everyone has a vocation to spread the Good News; but it’s important that each of Christ’s lay faithful recognize they are not called to do this in the same way as clergy or religious.

The Holy Father points out there are as many ways to engage in this spread of the Gospel as there are individual people.  He also points out that each individual will find their vocation to holiness and to mission in the very life they are living.  Every station in life, every profession, every situation is ripe with the call to holiness and mission.

He says: “What has been said about the spiritual vocation can also be said – and to a certain degree with greater reason – of the infinite number of ways through which all members of the Church are employed as laborers in the vineyard of the Lord, building up the Mystical Body of Christ.  Indeed, as a person with a truly unique life story, each is called by name to make a special contribution to the coming of the Kingdom of God.  No talent, no matter how small, is to be hidden or left unused (cf. Matthew 25:24-27).

So…

   1.  Do I recognize my everyday part of the world as place to which God has called me to bring the Gospel?

   2.  What is the greatest need in my own world?  What is keeping it from reflecting God’s goodness, presence, and love?

   3.  What is the first, small thing I could do to accomplish this?

Challenge:  Bring to prayer the above questions…and then ACT on #3.