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Reflections from The Cross, Our Only Hope

Our commitment is an invitation for our fellow Christians to fulfill their vocation, and for ourselves it is a concrete way of working with them for the spread of the gospel and with all for the development of a more just and human society. — Holy Cross Constitutions

So much of our modern society rejects the idea that the human person does in fact have a vocation—something to which God calls him or her. Intent on defending a secular and individualistic view of freedom, our culture teaches that we determine our own path in life and make our own choices.

Our beloved Pope John Paul II knew better. When he told the story of his own vocation to the priesthood, he entitled the work Gift and Mystery. These two words perfectly capture not only the reality of God’s call, but also our experiences of vocation. God’s call is sometimes mysterious, difficult to discern, and we often feel unworthy of it. But this does not make it any less real. In fact, it is precisely because it is mysterious, and because we are unworthy of it, that God’s invitation to share in his life and mission can be experienced as true freedom, indeed, as a joy-filled gift.

As priests, brothers, and sisters, we in Holy Cross consecrate our lives in witness to the reality of God’s call. In attempting to answer faithfully his call to us, we hope to convince all people that they, too, are called by God. Whether it be as a husband or wife, father or mother, doctor, teacher, civil servant, businessperson, or any number of other callings, God invites all of his faithful people to holiness and to a share in his life and mission. This universal vocation beckons all to work together in joyful hope for the coming of God’s kingdom.

— Stephen Koeth, C.S.C.

From The Cross, Our Only Hope: Daily Reflections in the Holy Cross Tradition, ed. by Andrew Gawrych, C.S.C., and Kevin Grove, C.S.C., Copyright 2008 by Priests of Holy Cross, Indiana Province. Used with permission of Ave Maria Press (www.avemariapress.com).