The Call of a Lifetime
Matthew had a job in the tax office.  It was reliable, if not highly-paid; there’s no indication that he was unjust but Jewish people didn’t like tax-collectors, since they were agents of the Roman conquerers.

Jesus called Matthew who rose at once and followed him.  A special quality of call is readiness to go for it.  It means letting go salary, promotion prospects, a predictable, settled lifestyle, probably leaving familiar places, family, interests, the pursuits of daily life, and of leisure time.

Many today focus on the sacrifice in vocation, what ‘you give up’, it’s time again to think big, to see the fuller canvas of vocation, the joy, fulfilment, peace of conscience, the wide field for fruitful influence, the Christian leavening of society.  All this is hugely enhanced by a lifetime commitment, as St. Matthew assumed.

A discerned total-life consecrated vocation today is based on sound faith (R2), a simple, humble way of life, concern for needy people, offering hope (R1 & Gospel).  We need good people to run the country in every sphere; side-by-side with them, we need vowed persons to inspire, pray, and be an explicit sign of God in earthly things.

Fr. Eamon Flanagan, C.M.

8th June, 2008