Road to Fifty Reflections: Day 20

Called Like Mary

I began the day with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Rogelio dela Rosa, a priest I’ve known since sixth grade, back in my Dominican school days.

The Gospel reading for the novena Mass was about the Visitation (from St. Luke), but Fr. Dela Rosa spoke of another “V” word: VOCATION. He reminded us that it comes from the Latin word vocare --- “to call.”

As I listened, I found myself wondering: How do we discern this call in difficult circumstances?

What about those with little or no opportunity --- those not born into the faith, or those who have suffered deeply in poverty, neglect or abuse? How can God’s call be heard amid so much pain and limitation?

And the Spirit whispered to my heart, "In every circumstance, every story, every life... we are all called," first of all, to holiness.

We may have been born into struggle or into comfort, may have walked through pain or privilege... yet God’s hand is always at work, weaving meaning and grace into every thread of our lives.

Mary, our Blessed Mother, shows us what it means to be called. She was invited into God’s plan in a moment of uncertainty. She asked Her questions --- Her “whats” and “hows” --- but She still said Her “yes.” Her trust in God was greater than Her fear.

To be called, then, is not about status or circumstance. It is about faithfulness... saying “yes” to God where we are, with what we have, and in who we are. 

Like Mary, we are called to serve, to love and to lead others to Christ by the quiet witness of our lives.

#Day20 #roadtofifty #prayingtogether