Conversation Conversations

Week 31 — Vocation (Callings)

"The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, 'Here I am.' " —1 Samuel 3:4

Jump to day: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sunday

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? 'Here I am,' I said; 'send me!' " —Is 6:8

Conversation:

Abba: Child, when you recognize Who I am, then you will realize I have been calling you. When you know I am the holy One, the fear of the Lord will be the beginning of wisdom about My call for you (Ps 111:10). You must fear Me to hear Me.
Child: Abba, at times I sense Your presence. I seem to hear a still, small voice whispering Your plan for my life (1 Kgs 19:12).

Response:

Respond to the silence of His presence.

Monday

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you." —Jer 1:5

Conversation:

Abba: Child, you must realize how precious you are to Me. I sent My Son Jesus to die for you. You don't think your life is so important. You waste your time and days doing what everyone else is doing. Know that you're special. I have chosen you from all time. You are precious.
Child: Abba, I have a hard time taking my life seriously. Even when I think I'm serious, I'm superficial. May I not waste any more of my life mixed up with the things of the world. Thank You for choosing me out of the world (Jn 15:19). For the first time I can look at my life objectively.

Response:

Respond to reality. Remember the ashes of Ash Wednesday.

Tuesday

"Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb He gave me my name." —Is 49:1

Conversation:

Abba: Child, My calling for you is so obvious you don't notice it. It's not far away, but "very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out" (Dt 30:14). See how I have orchestrated your entire life to lead you to this moment. Let it be done to you as I say (Lk 1:38).
Child: Abba, I think of the poem "Footprints in the Sand." I see I don't have to work out my vocation by myself. You will pick me up and carry me at the most difficult times.

Response:

Respond by lifting up your hands to the Lord.

Wednesday

"God's gifts and His call are irrevocable." —Rm 11:29

Conversation:

Abba: Child, you think you can out-wait Me. Do you think I'll change My mind and My callings, because you disobey by procrastinating? I don't change. You must repent.
Child: Abba, why do I act as if Your call was a burden rather than an opportunity of a lifetime? Abba: You don't trust Me.

Response:

Respond by going to Confession.

Thursday

"He called to him, 'Abraham!' 'Ready!' he replied." —Gn 22:1

Conversation:

Abba: Child, My word is living and effective (Heb 4:12). Think of those Scripture passages that have come up time after time for years. They speak of your call. I've repeated your call hundreds of times. Say "yes."
Child: "Nothing I desire compares with You."

Response:

Respond "yes."

Friday

"He said to them, 'Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men.' They immediately abandoned their nets and became His followers." —Mt 4:19-20

Conversation:

Abba: Child, I am taking your hand (Is 42:6). If you will not take My hand, My hand will rest heavy on you (Ps 32:4).
Child: Abba, I stand on holy ground (Ex 3:5). Your word burns in my heart (Lk 24:32). I must let You love me.

Response:

Respond to His touch.

Saturday

"But the time came when He Who had set me apart before I was born and called me by His favor chose to reveal His Son to me." —Gal 1:15-16

Conversation:

Abba: Child, you pretend not to hear Me. Yes, some are called to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life. I realize you don't know what you're getting into. You will have to trust in Me completely and walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor 5:7).
Child: Abba, You're serious. If I said "yes," my whole world would be ruined.
Abba: Child, say "yes."

Response:

Respond in the Holy Spirit

Excerpts from Scripture are taken from The New American Bible, copyright 1970 by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., and are used by permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.

Nihil obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, July 13, 1995.

Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, July 25, 1995.

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