Homily for Ordinary Time 11
June 14, 2026
Chosen: Vocation and Mission
When we
were all growing up, one of the most tense moments of school was picking teams
on the playground. I don’t care what sport it was – kickball, basketball,
whatever – I was usually picked last – maybe you have a similar story!
We all
want to be chosen, included, welcomed onto the team for our valuable
contributions. Young people have a syndrome they call FOMO – “Fear of missing
out” – when they’re not invited to be a part of something exciting. And this
certainly would have been the case with these Twelve Apostles.
The
process of following a rabbi was quite different in first-century Judaism.
Every young boy would receive schooling until he was thirteen, but then only
the best and brightest would go on to train with a rabbi. The rabbi wouldn’t
seek out the boy; it was the other way around. An intellectually sharp and
devout boy would ask a rabbi, “May I follow you?” The rabbi, then, would
examine the boy to see if he is worthy of investing the time to train him. If
he liked what he saw, the rabbi would respond, “Come, follow me.”
Jesus
does things backwards – He seeks out His disciples. He chooses those who are
clearly not the best and the brightest – these guys were in their
twenties or older, clearly washed-up day laborers. Why does He seek them? Not
because they are worthy – but because He has a specific mission for them, and
He wants to make clear that it is His power in them, not their own
efforts that are doing these miracles and preaching this saving message.
These
Apostles were chosen – and so are you. You, too, have an irreplaceable role to
play in this grand epic of what God is doing in history to bring about His
Kingdom and save souls. And you can know what this mission is in two ways: your
vocation, and your charisms.
First,
your vocation. We know that we are supposed to love God and love our neighbor,
but that’s kinda vague – who are the ones we are called to love? The
poor in Africa? The homeless in Bridgeport? Maybe – but our vocation gives us a
clear direction to love. If you are called to marriage, then your
primary responsibility is to love your spouse and children to Heaven. Those
called to the priesthood are called to love their parish to become saints. Those
called to the single life in the world are called to love their families, their
neighbors, and to find a ministry wherein they can love others through
authentic self-gift.
Those of
you who are young – how do we know our vocation? There are three steps to
discernment. First, look at your holy desires – what desires do you have
that you could foresee leading to holiness? A desire to become rich and famous
is not a holy desire – a desire to serve the poor is a holy desire. God
often puts our vocation on our hearts through our holy desires. Last summer at
Camp Veritas, one of our young parishioners had a powerful encounter where he
actually saw the face of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist – a true miracle, just
for him. It changed his life and afterward we were talking and he sighed,
“Well, I guess I have to be a priest now.” I said, “Do you want to be a
priest?” “No, not really.” “Then it’s probably not your vocation – and that’s
fine! The Church needs holy married men, as well!”
Second,
look at the doors God is opening. I was working with a young man in his 20s who
was passionate about the Faith. I asked him if he had considered the
priesthood, and he said no, he was going to marry Sarah. I said, “That’s
wonderful! I didn’t know you had a girlfriend.” He replied, “Oh, I don’t. Sarah
broke up with me a month ago and told me she would never date me again. But I know
it’s God’s will that we marry.” Uh, sorry buddy. It’s not God’s will. Pay
attention to the doors He opens, and we can see His will.
Finally,
do we have peace when we think about our future vocation? Peace is usually a
sign that we are on the path God has set out for us.
Now,
discernment about our vocation is only for those who have not yet made a
commitment. Once we have made vows for marriage, priesthood, or religious life,
that part of discernment is done – we now have a direction for our love.
But our discernment isn’t finished yet – we still must discern our charisms
– the unique gifts of the Holy Spirit given so we can live out His mission here
on earth.
St. Paul
sets out a list of charisms in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. Some seem
mundane, such as the charism of leadership or administration or generosity.
Some seem more extraordinary: charism of healing, prophesy, miracles. A charism
is not just an ordinary talent – it is a passion and gift that serious
disciples have for the building up of the Kingdom. It’s not just something we
train for, but something that goes to the depths of who we are. It’s not for us
and our enjoyment, but for God to work through us for others.
A friend
of mine is a tremendous singer who uses her gifts for the glory of God. One
day, a Franciscan brother prayed over her (it was Br. Damien, who you may have
seen if you came to our Heart-to-Heart Adoration this year). He has the charism
of prophesy, whereby God speaks through him, and he said to her, “Your voice
will be used to bring many people to Confession.” Kind of an interesting charism,
right? Well, the next time she was leading songs during Adoration, she was
amazed – the Confession lines stretched all the way around the church! And it
happens to her every time she sings during Adoration. A true charism indeed!
I know a
woman with the charism of hospitality. She used to host gatherings for priests
and Protestant ministers at her homes, and over dinner and coffee, we forged
friendships and organized ecumenical events that brought many Christians
together with a shared passion for the Lord. It may seem mundane, but she was
never happier than when she saw people connecting with fellow Christians over
pasta and tiramisu.
Some
have the charism of teaching, or writing, or working with the poor. Some have
the charism of intercessory prayer – they love to pray for others, and feel a
real passion for doing so. Some have the charism of evangelization – they get
in conversations with their Uber driver and strangers in airports about Jesus.
Some have the charism of working with youth – one of the most effective youth
ministers in our diocese is a grandmother in New Canaan who runs an absolutely
vibrant youth ministry at St. Aloysius.
If you
are a serious disciple, you have a charism. You have to discern what it is and
where to use it, but a disciple must use it for Christ to live and work
in them. I would encourage you to read more about charisms from Catholic
websites or a fantastic book called “Fruitful Discipleship”. Discern what your
charism is, try it out, and see how God will work through you.
Both
your vocation – which is your mission territory – and your charisms – which are
your tools to work that territory and bear fruit – are gifts from God. The
reason why God chose these ordinary Apostles is so that the glory will go to
Him and not to them. Throughout history, He has chosen saints from the most
common folk and allowed them to do tremendous works.
For
example, St. John Vianney was not the smartest priest ever. He was so behind in
his schoolwork that when he was in his twenties, he was sent back to class with
twelve-year-olds to learn basic Latin. Even when he became a priest, his fellow
priests thought he was too uneducated to be a pastor, so they circulated a
petition to have him removed. When Vianney heard about this petition, he asked
to see it – and he signed his own name to it! But because he was so humble, God
could use him.
He had
founded an orphanage for poor girls, but one day finances were tough and they
ran out of flour. The woman in charge ran to Fr. Vianney, who told her, “You
cannot make many loaves of bread? Then just make one.” The woman ran home and
poured out the meager flour from the bag, and when she had mixed it with water
and yeast, it began to rise…and rise…and rise so much that it became a lump of
dough so large that they had to make it into several smaller loaves, which fed
the entire house. When she came back to thank the priest, he said humbly, “I do
not work miracles! I am only a poor ignorant man who once tended sheep. I just
turned to the saints and they helped you.” He tried to deflect the
praise even when he did the miracle!
My
friends, God called these leftover-men to become the cornerstone of His Church.
God has likewise chosen you for a mission: one that unfolds through your
vocation, and through the specific charisms God has given you. Our weakness is
not an obstacle to His working in and through us, if we are willing instruments
in His hands!
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