Rev Fr Jacob Arimpur VC 
W Then we hear the word “vocation,” most of us think of priests, nuns or religious brothers. But in the Catholic Church, vocation is far wider. It is God’s personal invitation to every person, an invitation to a life of meaning and holiness. The word vocation comes from the Latin vocatio, meaning “to call.” This call is not something reserved for the few. It is offered to all. Our first and shared vocation is holiness. As Saint Peter writes, “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is not only for priests or nuns. It is the starting point for every Christian.
Jesus’ parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9) shows how widely this call is given. The sower scatters seed on all kinds of grounds, not just the fertile soil. In the same way, God offers His Word and His call to everyone, whether or not we seem “ready” to receive it. While the universal call is the same, each of us also receives a particular call, that is a concrete way of living out holiness. Traditionally the Church recognises four main vocations: priesthood, religious life, marriage and single life for the sake of the Kingdom. Too often, marriage is seen as the default. But the real question is not “What do I want to do?” but “What is God calling me to do?” Peace and fruitfulness come from answering His call, not simply following our own preferences.God does not hand us a menu of options. He gives us a call. Our freedom lies in our choice to accept or reject that call. Even when life seems to limit our
Rev Fr Jacob Arimpur VC
options, we still retain the power to choose. As Sirach 15:15 says, “If you choose, you can keep the commandments.”
Trusting God’s plan can be hard. His plan may not match our expectations, but it is always for our good. “I know the plans I have for you plans for your welfare and not for harm” (Jeremiah 29:11). Like Mary at the Annunciation, we too are invited to respond, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word.”This discernment requires prayer. Without a deep relationship with God, we are like rocky soil where the seed cannot take root. Distractions and worries can choke our responsiveness. But when we pray and open our hearts, we become “good soil,” where God’s call bears fruit “a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty” (Matthew 13:8).
Life’s beauty does not come from having endless options but from making the right choices. Like a painter with many colours, we create something beautiful not by using every shade but by selecting the right ones. In the same way, God offers the perfect call. He will not force us. When we say “yes,” even to a call that feels challenging, we discover the joy and meaning He promises. Let us pray for the courage to accept the call God has given us, to make the right choice and experience the future full of hope that He promises.