I know we have career goals, dreams and aspirations. But if you ask me what my Vocation is, as a Christian, I will respond, “to be a SAINT. It doesn’t end there. We also have a second vocation of helping others become saints.
It’s true that Saints are flawed and normal human beings (like you and me) who touch the lives of those around them for the better. But this flawed picture of Saints is not always so clear to us, is it?
Most of the existing literature on Saints tell us only about how ‘perfect’ they were while they lived. We’re told how prayerful they were, and how they could levitate, bi-locate and see apparitions and visions.
No wonder then that the rest of us (knowing how imperfect we are) simply throw in the towel and conclude sainthood isn’t for people like us. I mean let’s face it. We’ve done too many evil things. We can NEVER be Saints. Right?
I wish we could have just as many books that tell us how human the Saints were too.
We would like to also know that these men and women had real challenges – that they sometimes struggleed with pride, or maybe took stuff that wasn’t theirs, or gambled, or drank to stupor; that they had sexual urges and struggled with weaknesses of the flesh just like you and me.
We would like to know that they weren’t specially selected and chosen to be Saints. Not because we don’t want to get better, but because we like to know that no matter how bad it was for them, grace still made them Saints, so we too still stand a chance to be Saints, in spite of our present circumstances.
No one is ever too far gone. Draw inspiration from what God tells the prophet Jeremiah, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations” (Jer.1:5).
Take me for instance. Many years ago, a child saw a shiny ring on the finger of a Holy Ghost Priest (CSSP) and, bam! He knew he had to be a priest too, if only to be able to wear such a ring.
That child was me. Today, looking back, I have come to realise that God calls us and attracts our attention in many ways. Remember the Bible Story of the Burning Bush? What matters is how we respond to these promptings of God deep inside our hearts.
Since it’s Vocations Sunday today, Fourth Sunday of Easter (also Good Shepherd Sunday), I feel the need to talk about vocations to the Priesthood and the Religious Life.
I know you’ve probably felt the urge at some point in your life to serve God in these capacities, but a voice keeps reminding you of your failings.
You remember that you’re a grievous sinner. You suddenly became aware how shallow your prayer life is. A tiny voice in your head laughs at the irony of you becoming a priest or a religious.
Let me tell you this ‘for free’.
I was one of the most strong headed kids on the block in my day. My ‘coconut headedness’ was truly out of this world. My Mom must have said many prayers to God on my behalf. God rest her soul.
Granted, after my ‘ring’ experience, I wanted to be a priest alright. My elder brother and me would dress up as priests, take up pieces of cooked cassava, and reverently dole them out to my sisters.
But deep down, I wasn’t ready to change yet. I was still quite disobedient, stubborn, and outspoken.
But God called me like that.
My Mom was instrumental to this call. From forcing me to Masses, to ensuring we sat with my Dad in Church.
You may not fully understand what sitting with my Dad in Church meant back in the day. But the man made sure we sat still like statutes as we pretended to pay attention to whatever was said in Church.
So, between my Dad and Mom, I found a way to answer God’s call.
I’ll spare you the details of how I made it through Minor and Major Seminary. But I did by the special help of God’s GRACE.
Today, almost thirteen years later, all I can say is “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Cor. 1:27).
From a ring to the priesthood? How awesome is that? No wonder today I still wear a shiny finger rosary!
So, can you hear God calling? Pick up the phone and say, “hello Daddy! Here I am, send me!”
God bless you!
© Oselumhense Anetor, 2017, revised 2022, 2024, and 2025.
