Whenever a person discerns about his or her vocation, he or she always asks the questions, “Has God really called me? And where is God leading me to?”
It is hard for a person to answer either one of these questions. Why is it that we cannot readily answer those questions? What is vocation all about? Why does a person need to study in the seminary to become a priest?
The word "vocation" comes from another Latin word vocatio, which means a calling. It is a gift from God and a blessing to all of us. Priesthood is one of these kinds of vocation. God has called each of us to become His priest. So it is not proper to ask whether we are called or not. We are the only one making it complicated. We sometimes have doubts if we really wanted this kind of vocation. It only depends to us if we are going to accept this calling. Jesus wanted us to follow Him but He leaves us in the decision- making whether to accept it or not.
We must be sure if we wanted to become Jesus’ fishermen. If we are half interested, better not go for it. To become a priest, we must give up all – from wealth to earthly pleasures. God calls all but only few are chosen. Why? It is because He only wanted those who deserve to be his priests. Only those people whom He thinks are fit to this kind of vocation. Now we raise the question, “How can He measure our readiness and our fitness to our calling?”
Seminary is a place where every seminarian is formed to be a better if not the best priest. It is a great challenge for us to show our best in forming our vocation in the seminary. Yes, it is very hard that most people quit but we must not look at the hardships. We must think that God wants us to pass through the needle’s eye in order to pass the test. If God will not challenge us, do you think we will bring out the best in us?
A priest is called to be a messenger of hope, a strong leader and a spiritual guide both to the lost and the faithful. They must be dedicated in order to function well. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that he does not want a bobo (dull), tamad (lazy) and bakla (gay) priests. So by studying in the seminary, seminarians are being formed into better priests. They do not only excel in one aspect alone but in all. They need to pass all the four pillars of the seminary formation namely human, intellectual, pastoral and spiritual. They learn to handle problems that they will encounter in the ministry. They are being nurtured to the vocation that they have answer.
To answer God’s call is a great challenge to all of us. We undergo different trials that God gives us. But we must always remember that He did not give all these trials if we cannot handle them. He knows what our limit is and so He only wants us to bring out the best that we can do.
We are all called for a specific vocation. It is up to us if we listen to that call. It is up to us to respond and utilize well our God-given talents so we could attain our respective calling in life.
As often said,”Man proposes but God disposes”. We just have to trust Him completely where He wants us to be.
It is hard for a person to answer either one of these questions. Why is it that we cannot readily answer those questions? What is vocation all about? Why does a person need to study in the seminary to become a priest?
The word "vocation" comes from another Latin word vocatio, which means a calling. It is a gift from God and a blessing to all of us. Priesthood is one of these kinds of vocation. God has called each of us to become His priest. So it is not proper to ask whether we are called or not. We are the only one making it complicated. We sometimes have doubts if we really wanted this kind of vocation. It only depends to us if we are going to accept this calling. Jesus wanted us to follow Him but He leaves us in the decision- making whether to accept it or not.
We must be sure if we wanted to become Jesus’ fishermen. If we are half interested, better not go for it. To become a priest, we must give up all – from wealth to earthly pleasures. God calls all but only few are chosen. Why? It is because He only wanted those who deserve to be his priests. Only those people whom He thinks are fit to this kind of vocation. Now we raise the question, “How can He measure our readiness and our fitness to our calling?”
Seminary is a place where every seminarian is formed to be a better if not the best priest. It is a great challenge for us to show our best in forming our vocation in the seminary. Yes, it is very hard that most people quit but we must not look at the hardships. We must think that God wants us to pass through the needle’s eye in order to pass the test. If God will not challenge us, do you think we will bring out the best in us?
A priest is called to be a messenger of hope, a strong leader and a spiritual guide both to the lost and the faithful. They must be dedicated in order to function well. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz said that he does not want a bobo (dull), tamad (lazy) and bakla (gay) priests. So by studying in the seminary, seminarians are being formed into better priests. They do not only excel in one aspect alone but in all. They need to pass all the four pillars of the seminary formation namely human, intellectual, pastoral and spiritual. They learn to handle problems that they will encounter in the ministry. They are being nurtured to the vocation that they have answer.
To answer God’s call is a great challenge to all of us. We undergo different trials that God gives us. But we must always remember that He did not give all these trials if we cannot handle them. He knows what our limit is and so He only wants us to bring out the best that we can do.
We are all called for a specific vocation. It is up to us if we listen to that call. It is up to us to respond and utilize well our God-given talents so we could attain our respective calling in life.
As often said,”Man proposes but God disposes”. We just have to trust Him completely where He wants us to be.
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