National Vocation Awareness Week: Come & See!

During these wintry days (at least in certain parts of the country), I am reminded how much I am a Spring & Summer person, and prefer walking along the beach, instead of in the snow.  Over this past summer, I had a great opportunity to help on a silent retreat at St. Mary's-by-the-Sea in Cape May Point, NJ, administered by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Philadelphia.  The retreat house sits right on the beach by the old Lighthouse in Cape May.  It is quite a spot!  During the first evening, as I was entering the silence myself, I decided to walk along the beach and watch the sunset.  As I was doing so, I heard a voice call out, "Kevin!"  I stopped, looked around, and noticed nothing.  I continued to walk and heard again, "Kevin!"  This time I saw a man to the right of me calling for his young son to come out of the water and that it was time to come home.  I thought to myself, "Now what are the chances that as I enter into retreat the first thing I experience is my name being called by the water!"  Certainly, it was a coincidence; even more, it was a God-incident, to be called by the water and caught between a father and his son.  What an experience, one that continues to speak to me of the power of our Baptism.  In Baptismal water, each of us is called by name.  Each of us is called to serve, to mission, just as those first disciples were called, while were by the Sea of Galilee. 

During this Vocation Awareness week, let us become aware of how God calls each of us by the water.  Let us become aware of how we too are constantly caught between the love of a Father and a Son.  Let us become aware that we, too, have to respond to this invitation to follow and to serve. 

Here is the prayer we Augustinians pray everyday for such a faithful response:

Let us pray to the Lord of the harvest
Who calls men and women to loving service.

All glory and praise are yours,
God of truth, light of our hearts,
for you guide your people
in the ways of holiness.

Help those who follow
in the footsteps of Augustine
to seek you through mutual love
and worship
and to be servants of your Church
as examples that others may follow.

Enlighten men and women to see
the beauty of common life
in the spirit of Saint Augustine
and strengthen them in your service
so that the work you have begun
in them
may be brought to fulfillment.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.