‘A simple and beautiful way to happiness’
One of the most profound characteristics of an authentic relationship with Christ is its simplicity. God is perfectly simple, as is responding to His call. The Scriptures proclaim this in the examples of Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Andrew, Peter, John, and many others. Sometimes, the Scriptures recount tortured emotions and reluctance in responding to God’s call, such as in the cases of Elijah and Jeremiah, but the complications are all on the side of the person called, not from the One Who calls.
One of the most profound characteristics of an authentic relationship with Christ is its simplicity. God is perfectly simple, as is responding to His call. The Scriptures proclaim this in the examples of Abraham, Moses, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Andrew, Peter, John, and many others. Sometimes, the Scriptures recount tortured emotions and reluctance in responding to God’s call, such as in the cases of Elijah and Jeremiah, but the complications are all on the side of the person called, not from the One Who calls.
I remember so clearly one night when I was 24 years old, saying evening prayers before going to bed and thinking about the duties for the next day. As I went to sleep, I felt a gentle voice say to me, “Haven’t you wanted to be a priest?” That was the only question asked, and I remember thinking, “I’ll have to find out about that.” The next week, I scheduled an appointment with my parish priest, Father Pat Cullen, and went to see him. When I asked him if he thought I had a vocation to the priesthood, he said simply: “You are always at Mass. You go to confession. I don’t see any problem.” Father Cullen called Bishop Foley, and I went to see him. This was all in April 2001. Bishop Foley and I talked for a long time, and he was encouraging and welcoming in the way a true father is. He gave me good advice about personal prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, told me to read the Scriptures every day, and by August 2001, I was in the seminary studying for the Diocese of Birmingham. As I went to the seminary, I remember promising God that I would do my best to serve Him with my life, and that when or if He showed me that this path was not for me, I would leave and serve Him another way. Until today, He has not given me any indication that this life is not for me. God has given me happiness, consolation, and rootedness in His love.
So many young people have come to me over the years asking about vocations to the priesthood or religious life, and I have told them all that there is simply nothing evil in pursuing any of these vocations if God has put this thought in their head. All that is required is simplicity to respond with faithfulness. Often, the response they make is to tell me about all the things that stand in their way, along with all their doubts and fears about not being “worthy.” These complications are all on our side. Humans are complicated creatures, and our hearts have a hard time being faithful because of concupiscence. God, however, can do more than we can ask or imagine if we only say yes to Him. The Blessed Virgin is our model par excellence of this truth. If you are thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, get up, go, and find out about it. Remember the ancient wisdom: “Waste no time in beginning!” God will lead you in a simple and beautiful way to happiness in His grace.
Father John G. McDonald is the pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Anniston.
