Catherine's Cafe Vocation Blog

Last week I led a Eucharistic Word service in our parish. I always welcome times when we have these services, because it gives me an opportunity to preach.  The Gospel for the day was Mark 10:28-31, and since it touches on my experience of religious life I share it with all of you:    "In yesterday’s Gospel the young man went away sad when Jesus told him to sell his possessions and follow him. Today we hear Peter say: we’ve done that, and so? in other words, what’s in store for us? Jesus then tells the disciples that they will receive so much more than they have given away. This Gospel is often used at religious professions, since we take the vow of poverty, and we leave our homes in order to live in community. When I reflect on this idea of receiving a hundred times more I think of it primarily in terms of intangibles, or spiritual gifts. When we give our whole day to God, we often experience a great peace, when we put God first in our lives there is a joy that c...

There is a prayer composed by Trappist Monk, Thomas Merton, this has become a favorite of many people.   It begins:   “God, I have no idea where I am going.   I do not see the road ahead of me. . .”  If we are truly honest with ourselves, we will recognize some things about ourselves when pondering Merton’s words. Keeping this reflection in the first person – I – then my pondering/reflection of this prayer sounds like this:   “Yes, there are days when I have no idea where I am going when considering the big life picture.   I just feel a little lost.”   OR   “Oooppss!   I trying to control my future.”   OR   “Am I too comfortable where I am?   Do I need to step out of my comfort zone?” Saint Dominic led the way for the Order of Preachers, modeling an itinerancy at the service of the Holy Preacher.   Such a journey includes a call to step out one’s comfort zone. What ponderings/reflections come to mind for you as yo...