The Universal Church dedicates the fourth Sunday of Easter, which this year fell on 3 May, as the world day of prayer for vocations. The theme chosen for this year’s pontifical message was: Faith in the divine initiative – the human response.

In the Matthean Gospel Jesus shows the urgency to pray for more labourers to work in the Lord’s vineyard. “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest” (Matt 9, 37-38). It is solely God’s initiative to choose and call those who would follow his Son Jesus Christ more closely, and to be his ministers and witnesses of the Kingdom of Heaven. In this year’s message the Pope said that “what is asked of those who are called, for their part, is careful listening and prudent discernment, a generous and willing adherence to the divine plan, and a serious study of the reality that is proper to the priestly and religious vocations, so as to be able to respond responsibly and with conviction”.

As it has been stressed already, incessant prayer for vocations is paramount. We need to storm the heavens with constant prayer. Moreover, our prayer needs to be more inclusive. We are not only limiting our prayer specifically for those who are called to come forward so as to courageously embrace the priestly and consecrated life. Prayer is also needed for those who are following the Lord wherever He goes. These too need to be held in our prayer so that they might live their calling with constant generosity, zeal and

discernment.

For both categories faith is vital. It is the latter that in the end motivates their responsibility in and with Christ through the Holy Spirit to accept and live with joy their divine calling. Communion with Jesus is the key for a generous faith response. Thanks to this exclusive relationship with the Lord the called one is able to respond daily with that “generous and unmitigated “Amen” of the Virgin of Nazareth, uttered with humble and decisive adherence to the plan of the Most High announced to her by God’s messenger (cf. Lk 1:38)”.

Let us pray with fervent faith, hope and love to the Lord so that He will continue to replenish, uphold and expand his harvest with priests and consecrated people who give themselves eucharistically, like Jesus, as gifts par excellence for the salvation of the whole world.

Lord Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world, show forth, we beseech You, in Your Church the Holy Spirit with whose power the apostles were so abundantly filled. We thank You for the blessings bestowed upon the work of priests and consecrated persons; and we pray that You will add to the number of those who now pray, labour, and sacrifice themselves for Your glory and the salvation of souls. Give them unselfish zeal for Your glory. O good Jesus, give us more priests and consecrated persons after Your own Heart! Amen.

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Gwann