2024/10/28

167. Vocations　

The results of the previous discussion were fascinating, and I felt that I could understand why St Francis received the diaconate. He may have unconsciously felt that he had the "Jesus' vocation" when he was called by the San Damiano crucifix, which was painted based on the Gospel of John and the Book of Revelation. It was the "Jesus' vocation" that Jesus left behind by living as a celibate himself for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and remaining the "Son" to the "Father" until the end of his life. 

Those who are gifted with the vocation to live celibacy themselves for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, following in Jesus' footsteps, will find that they have it. Jesus said, "He who is able to receive this, let him receive it" (Matthew 19:12). These words guarantee that men and women believers who receive the fact that they have this vocation are free to live it. The "Jesus' vocation" makes those who accept it, like Jesus, "those to whom it is given" (19:11), who proclaim the whereabouts of the "Kingdom of God". As a male, however, Francis suffered greatly when the Church invited him to the priesthood. He was torn between his love for the "Jesus' vocation", which was already within him, and that for the Church. The invitation to the priesthood is an invitation to receive the "Mary's vocation". They are two different vocations. 

Jesus' priesthood began when his mother, Mary, responded to the angel's announcement. Mary also took his priesthood together with Jesus. Jesus took this honorable commission, which he did being called by God, from his mother, Mary, so to speak, as the Letter to the Hebrews says: "And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, 'Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee' " (Hebrews 5:4-5). So, Jesus performed the first sign for his mother "at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory" (John 2:11). This sign, in which water turned into wine, was the foretaste of the sign next time, in which wine turned into His blood. Mary had lived for her whole life the very words she said before the angel, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). Jesus knew that that wish of Mary was directed to the Father. 

The birth and death of the Eucharist took place when the bread and wine became the body and blood of Christ through the institution of the Eucharist performed by Jesus and was eaten and drunk by the Apostles around the last table with him. It was a reenactment of the reality of Jesus' birth and death. Jesus commanded them to continue this work in the future by saying, "Do this in remembrance of me" (Luke 22:19). The reality of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the only one who fully shared in his birth and death by giving birth to him and experiencing his death on the cross, is the source of the experience of priests who, in collaboration with the Holy Spirit, bring forth the Eucharist and share in his birth and death, and is the priesthood of the New Covenant. On the Cross, Jesus united his mother and the Apostle in a parent-child bond. It was a sign that the Apostles were united for eternity with the priesthood of Jesus that Mary had received, being overshadowed by the power of the Most High with the Holy Spirit coming upon her. Hence, the priest has the "Mary's vocation". 

At his last table, Jesus guided his Apostles, who were to receive the "Mary's vocation", so that their wishes might be directed from himself (cf. John 14:13-14) to the Holy Spirit (cf. 15:7-16) and on to the Father (cf. 16:21-27). And the Church responded to this leading of Jesus. The priest prays before the bread and wine in the Mass liturgy: "... so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ". The priest offers this prayer for the rest of their lives, which only priests, the heirs of the Apostles' ministry, can do. The Eucharist continues to support that prayer of theirs, making the following prayer of Jesus a reality through the work of being eaten and dying: "And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be consecrated in truth" (John 17:19). 

To be continued.

Maria K. M.