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A Message from the Very Reverend Jacob J. Yali
 Vocations / How our culture influence our Beliefs
Jan 14, 2009
The following is a transcript from Father Jacob's Soul Searching series
1. Years ago a London newspaper offered a prize for to the person who could best define “money”. The prize was awarded to a young man whose definition of money is as follows: “Money is an article, which may be used as a universal passport to everywhere except heaven and as a universal provider of everything except happiness”. Jesus said “What does it profit man…or what can a person/man give in exchange for his soul”?
Matt: 16.26
a. Spirituality/Vocation - Three are different types of vocations: Priesthood, Religious Life, Teacher, Family, Farmer, Engineer, Cook, Janitor, Administrator…… We can further group these into individual vocation, family vocation, parish vocation, community vocation, national vocation e.g. America has a call to fight HIV in Africa and etc.
Referring to the bible – Jesus spent the night in prayer before choosing his disciples or apostles, the “12” and the “72”. God called to the prophets (1Samuel: 16) “The Lord wants someone to be anointed”. According to 1Samuel:16: verse 12 and 17, informs us that it is God who chose. “You have not chosen me. I have chosen you” Jn: 15, 16
The history of salvation revealed to us that the Lord deliberately chose people he wanted for special assignments e.g. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, and etc. Are we Isaiah or Jonah? Jonah was called by God and didn’t listen. Instead of doing what God asked him he went in a different direction, which led him to being swallowed by a whale. He remained in its belly for three days. There are a number of candidates chosen to do the Lord’s work who worried or complained, but the Lord reassured these individuals by telling them over and over again “Do not be afraid I will be with you”. These words were all of the reassurance they needed. All of us have known our vocation. We have all said “yes” like Mary, but we do not stop and hear that voice of Jesus telling us “I will be with you”. Living out our vocation involves challenges. Yes, as it is written in the bible e.g. apostles, disciples, Paul, Acts Community). I am hoping that all of us here today will refresh our minds that Jesus, after giving the apostles the great commandment to go ahead and preach, teach and baptize also added: “Behold, I am with you always to the end of time” . Mt. 28: 20 & 21. Yes Jesus is with us to the end of time what a comfort.
Pauls’ Body of Christ image (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and each part of the body represent a vocation that needs to be filled by humanity and for humanity. So vocation or a “call” is how God fills those roles with people who are particularly and uniquely gifted for just those vocations.
2. Social Culture/Spiritual Culture: How does that shape our beliefs?
a. Social Culture – We often choose our vocation based upon the salary that helps establish status
b. Spiritual or “formation culture – tells us to follow our hearts, listen to the Holy Spirit, discern Gods’ will. It leaves us to ask the question:”What is Gods’ will for me”? It is this “self talk” that tells us to fight it and don’t go out and just make money.
The message we receive from our spiritual souls also informs us of our need to fulfill our calling. It is through experience that we begin to fulfill our purpose in life. What is your purpose in life? Fulfill it in the body of Christ. It doesn’t matter how much money you make.
3. Why do we do what we do?
Vocation is spiritual – If I’m doing my vocation I’m fulfilling my purpose in life. I am a productive. My life has meaning. If I do not allow spiritual vocation to guide my life then something else will takes it’s place often leading me in the opposite direction e.g. alcoholism, gambling, workaholic, busy, busy, busy…..
Occupation – I am who I am by what I have and what I do. Does that really define who you are?. What do I mean by that? To want more, more, more is where occupation has led us to where we are today and it will never be enough. It’s only a deep spiritual culture that can eradicate this deep-rooted problem that acts as a “cancer” that has been eating up our beloved U.S. of America.
Why are we confronting this situation today? Because we see it taking us down the drain. This being said, our occupation has lead us into this mess because occupation and vocation are controversial. Economic stress , emptiness, fear, yearning, hunger, thrist are formed when we have anxiety over a situation and our feelings our turned inward, which will eventually come out as anger, rage and frustration.
4. How can we fix or help those who have finally come to the end of themselves?
If they have recognized that they’re open to the spritual gift of the spirit. They will be ready to step back and take a look at their mistakes and recognize that they need help.
Those who have recognized their emptiness, yearning, and have realized they have come to the end of the road. Will get the help they need when we help to overcome their loss/grief, frustration, anger, emptiness that remains in them. Then we can cast them into a deeper spirituality which leads them to their true vocation.
5. Experiencing your true vocation
Once they have have answered the Lord’s call to their vocation. They will begin to experience fulfillment, purpose, meaning, and significance in receiving the body of christ. They will go out and train, recruit, invite, empower others. They in essence will go out and make a difference in the world because Jesus chose them as he did the 12 and the 72.
6. Positive/negative Heritage
Positive Heritage – Freedom to choose
Negative Heritage – You miss the point
Positive Heritage – the freedom to choose. In God we have trust. The United States of America has the ability to hold elections without chaos. Other democracies find elections more difficult, but here there is a sense of peace and unity. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the press… ideas derived from the pilgrims who arrived on boat. These individuals worked hard to preserve the freedom of our country. Sacrifices were made to ensure the “Spirit of Oneness”. The spirit that heads people to die for this nation in times of war.
Negative Heritage – You miss the point. Our country is slowly taking God out of the equation. “There should be no crosses in schools”. If you call out the name of God or Jesus you are taking a risk of offending people. How many times was Jesus offended? No religious education is allowed in public schools. No prayer is allowed as well. This all stems from the fear that implies that people will be offended.
I will work hard and be successful and achieve and it’s my own power that I have made this achievement and success. (Over achievers – Baby Boomers) Therefore there is no one like God to come into my life. Unfortunately, this inability to recognize their vocation or their calling is missed. This ramifications of this will result in the passing of Negative Cultural Heritage from one generation to the next. Slowy each generation will pass the traits of emptiness, hunger, confusion.
No wonder we talk about the American Dream. Wow! The very sad, sad truth is that the American Dream has become the American Nightmare. What’ has the dream done for us? Good can also come from this. We have moved from what is important (Vocation Spirituality our call) to what is not important.. occupation cultural heritage, which only leaves us empty and disconnected. When we are empty and disconnected we become afraid of the unknown, anxious, resulting in chaos and confusion.
Thank you.
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