The words vocation, avocation, and voice share the same Latin root, vocare, which means to call.
God’s word is brimming with call stories. For example, God extended the priestly call to Samuel in an audible voice when he was just a little boy (1 Samuel 3). God called Queen Esther to risk her life to save God’s people (Esther 4:12-15). God sent the angel, Gabriel, to proclaim to Mary that she will carry the Savior of the world (Luke 1:26-38).
Certainly, most of us have not heard the audible voice of God calling to us in the middle of night. Nor have many of us received a visit from an angel. However, even without such supernatural experiences, we are no less called than Mary, Esther, or Samuel. Yes, we are called. We are called through our baptism.
Through baptism, we receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit serves to empower us to live into our baptismal call. We are called to trust God, proclaim Christ, and care for ourselves and others. We are called to care for God’s creation, and work for justice and peace.
This message is excerpted from “Bold vocation” by Angela T. Khabeb in the June 2014 Café online magazine.
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