World Religions

“O Jesus, divine Shepherd of the spirit, you have called the Apostles in order to make them fishermen of men, you still attract to you burning spirits and generous young people, in order to render them your followers and ministers to us” (Pope Paul VI launching the 1st World Day of Prayer for Vocations)

Reflection Question:

Vocations are a calling to serve the Lord and share your talents that God has provided, some examples would be to answer the call to enter a community of Faith such as a priest or nun or for the lay person whether it is the profession you choose or one’s decision to marry or not, God has a role for you.

What calling does God have for you?

Discussion Question:

The call for vocations is primarily focused on our youth, generally prior to adulthood. Does the call stop once one has chosen his career and become an adult or do you think we could be called throughout our life?

“The Spirit of God dwells in you.” – Romans 8:9

1. In this time of Thanksgiving, what beauty do I see within and around me?
2. How does this invite me to give thanks to God in worship, service, and life?
3. What challenge do I face in my daily life that can dim my spirit?
4. “Whatever does not bring you more joy or make you more alive is too small for you.” What does this statement mean to me?

“Every part of the earth is sacred. Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the sons and daughters of the earth. All things are connected.” – Chief Seattle

Many everyday phrases were first used in the Bible. Match phrases to meanings.

1. a drop in the bucket (Isaiah 40:15)
2. At their wits’ end (Psalms 107:2)
3. A man after my own heart (I Samuel 13:14)
4. Give up the ghost (Job 3:11)
5. As old as the hills (Job 15:7)

a. Unable to handle anything more
b. A kindred spirit
c. A small amount of a plentiful commodity
d. Very, very old
e. To die, to cease working

Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth or power. Those rewards create almost as many problems as they solve. Our souls are hungry for meaning, for the sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter, so that the world will be at least a little bit different for our having passed through it … If a person lives and dies and no one notices, if the world continues as it was, was that person ever really alive? I am convinced that it is not the fear of death, of our lives ending, that haunts our sleep so much as the fear that as far as the world is concerned, we might as well never have lived. — Rabbi Harold Kushner

What does Kushner mean by saying we hunger to make the world “a little bit different”?

Write your own reflection entitled, “What My Soul Hungers For.” To foster a meditative spirit, embed a snippet of instrumental music (mp3) in your post.