We are not isolated and we are not Christians on an individual basis, each one on his or her own, no, our Christian identity is to belong! We are Christians because we belong to the Church. It is like a last name: if the first name is “I am Christian”, the last name is “I belong to the Church”. It is so beautiful to observe how this belonging is also expressed in the name God gives to himself. In answer to Moses in that wonderful episode of the “burning bush”, he defines himself as the God of the fathers (cf. Ex 3:15). He doesn’t say: I am the Omnipotent One..., no: I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob. In this way He reveals himself as the God who made an alliance with our fathers and remains ever faithful to his pact, and calls us to enter into this relationship which precedes us. God’s relationship with his people precedes us all, it comes from that time.
- Pope Francis, General Audience, June 25, 2014
Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Our first vocation is to be Christian. Christian is our identity. We are called to be like Christ, not just on occasion, but at all times and in all places. God calls us to a specific way of living our common vocation. Some are called to marriage, to creating a family. Others are called to healing vocations. Some are called to single life. Some are called to the priesthood or religious life. It is in this calling that we are to live out our primary vocation of Christian. How is God calling you to live your vocation?
- Pope Francis, General Audience, June 25, 2014
Today is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. Our first vocation is to be Christian. Christian is our identity. We are called to be like Christ, not just on occasion, but at all times and in all places. God calls us to a specific way of living our common vocation. Some are called to marriage, to creating a family. Others are called to healing vocations. Some are called to single life. Some are called to the priesthood or religious life. It is in this calling that we are to live out our primary vocation of Christian. How is God calling you to live your vocation?