Explore My Vocation

Scripture

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ (Lk 10:25-28)

Mk 10:17-31 “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Micah 6:8 “...To act justly, love tenderly, walk humbly with God…”

Introduction & Welcome (1 min.)

I. Opening Prayer (5 min.)

Grace: For openness in exploring my personal vocation.

Use the grace or the suggested scriptural passage above to create your own prayer or use the one below:

Loving God, tonight we are going to continue exploring the question of vocation. Help us to get in touch with our deepest desires and dare to ask you as the lawyer did, “Good teacher, what is my personal vocation in life?” Help us to be attentive to you and one another. Be here with us and guide our conversation. Amen.

II. Check-In (5 min.)

What were some of your high and low points of the week?

III. Focus Exercise (40 min.)

Materials Needed: laptop (video clip and optional slideshow below), CLC supply box (CLC journal booklets, papers, pens, etc.)

Introduction

Connect with last week’s meeting.

Exercise 1: What is Vocation?

Explain to members what you are about to do…..When I say the word, write down what first comes to your mind in your journal booklet. It could be a thought, a feeling, an image, or a question. Are you ready?.....Vocation (give members about 3 minutes)

Discuss what they put down.

Exercise 2: My Personal Vocation

Invite members to take turns reading the article, “My Personal Vocation” below out loud or have a slideshow presentation of the article. We recommend that you discuss the article a paragraph at a time.

My Personal Vocation: Called to love and Serve

When we hear the word “vocation,” most of us think of career and some think of priesthood or religious life. We often ask ourselves or are being asked by others, “What is your major?” “What is your career path?” Decisions, decisions, decisions!!! This word often brings a lot of stress and anxieties because we have so many choices. We often do not know what we want or we are afraid to make the wrong decisions.

As people of faith, we sometimes turn to God and want to know God’s will. We often feel stuck because we either do not want to know God’s will or do not know what God’s will is for us. This article attempts to wrestle with these vocation questions using the richness found in our Christian faith tradition.

Discussion Questions

What speaks to you about this above paragraph?
How do you feel when you are faced with choices, like careers or majors? Stressed? Excited? Fearful of making the wrong choices?

What is Vocation?

The word “vocation” comes from the Latin vocare, to call. Vocation is a calling or invitation from God to share life and work with God. This is God’s will/dream/plan. This is our purpose in life. There are other expressions that try to articulate God’s will/dream/plan:

To be union with God: live with God, live fully (Jn 10:10)
To be Jesus’ disciples: share life and mission with Jesus (Mt, Mk, Lk)
To love God, neighbor, and yourself (Lk 10:25-28)
To know, love, and serve the Lord and one another (Catholic Catechism)
To love and serve the Lord (St. Ignatius)
To be a person with and for others (Jesuits)
To discover and live out God’s dream for me personally (CLC)

Discussion Questions

Which one speaks to you the most? Why? If none, how would you articulate God’s will or Your purpose in life?

Three Senses of Vocation

It is helpful to think of three aspects or senses of vocation.

The first is the common Christian vocation, in which all members of the Church share by reason of their Baptism and Confirmation: It is the vocation to love and serve the Lord and proclaim His good news to others.

The second sense of vocation is a state of life, whether single, married, the priesthood, or to be a religious in the world. Each of these involves important, distinct specifications of the common vocation.

The third sense of vocation is a unique personal call from God to share love and serve the Lord and one another according to our state of life (single or married) and our unique gifts and passions. Yes, God calls each of us by name personally. And only you or me can fulfill that calling in this entire universe. Without you or me responding to or participating in God’s invitation, God’s dream can’t be fulfilled.

(adapted from Cardinal Joseph Bernadin, Chicago Catholic, Jan 7, 1983)

Discussion Questions

Discuss the three senses of vocation. Helpful? Agree? Any thoughts or feelings?

Three Questions

What am I passionate about?
What am I good at?
What does the world need from me?

Three Habits of Discernment

1. Attend weekly meeting

2. Pray with Awareness Examen

3. Get involved with community service

Listening Deeper

Do you believe you have a vocation? If so, how would you describe your vocation at this time in your life?
Is it helpful for you to think of your life in terms of vocation? If yes, in what ways?
Which state of life are you being called to? Are you open to other state of life?

IV. Moving Forward (5 min.)

Wrap-Up: Thank members for their openness and participation.
Action: Watch the “Finding Nemo” video clip and discuss it with your prayer partner.
Announcements: Topic for next meeting and upcoming CLC events

V. Closing Prayer (5 min.)

Pray for each other. End with the prayer below from Challenge (Mark Link)

Father, you created me

and put me on earth for a purpose.

Jesus, you died for me

and called me to complete your work.

Holy Spirit, you help me to carry out the work

for which I was created and called.

In your presence and name—

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—

we end this meeting.

May all our thoughts and inspirations

have their origin in you

and be directed to your glory.

Amen.

“Vocation is found where our deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

-Frederick Buechner

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