My husband taught English at a private girls’ boarding school for over 20 years. The students came from around the world. An occasional topic of conversation dealt with arranged marriages. The American girls were quite horrified at the concept. The girls whose future included an arranged marriage were quick to point out that arranged marriages were often good and fulfilling and had much more positive outcomes than marriages here in the United States. Interesting thought for those of us steeped in romantic fantasy about finding the one true love. I considered this an appropriate launching post for our theme for the year: vocations.

What is a vocation? According to AI (and this time I can’t quibble with it) “a Catholic vocation is a divine calling from God, derived from the Latin vocare (to call), inviting individuals to a specific state of life to pursue holiness, serve the Church, and achieve ultimate happiness. It is not merely a career, but a purpose-driven life path, typically marriage, priesthood, consecrated life, or single life, in which one loves and serves God.” Aha, our vocations, whether the priesthood, religious life, marriage, or single life is not a superficial pursuit of fantastical perfection or self-gratification, but rather has a much higher and profound meaning, of loving and serving God, along with loving each other, whether that be a spouse, friend, child, parishioner, or fellow religious. Our vocations are meant to invite and imbed us in the beautiful intimacy that God made us for, with Him and each other.

We all want to be seen and heard, to be known, and to know that we are loved and cherished for who we are, not for what we do or don’t do. God is our ultimate example of LOVE; He is love. He loves us unconditionally, sacrificially, totally, freely. Our family life and relationships are made to demonstrate and replicate that. Most of the time we fail abysmally, but God wants us to grasp the beautiful vision of what we are called to, and to commit to working towards knowing ourselves, and loving ourselves and those around us. To know ourselves as deeply loved by God our Father, and His Son, our Redeemer, and the fruit of their love, the Holy Spirit. To realize that God repeatedly welcomes us back into His embrace, to consider that His Son gave His life for us, and that the Holy Spirit is constantly at our side, giving us light through the confusion and darkness that we find ourselves in. Their example points to how we can best live our lives amongst each other, giving and forgiving over and over again, of sacrificing joyfully and freely, of loving when it is hard to do so, in whatever relationships we find ourselves. And AI got it right; it is the most sure path to deep abiding joy.

I will leave us with a challenge. Love and connection are built on being present to God and each other, to putting aside our “to do lists” and our phones, of sitting quietly, listening respectfully and carefully, being curious about those we love, asking questions, being available, talking safely, looking at the other. I pray, for myself and all of us, that we can choose to slow down and put aside the life-sucking technologies and tasks that fill our lives, and attach to our life-giving God and His design for our lives.