The Fourth Sunday of Easter also known as the Good Shepherd Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. This year marks the 61st anniversary of this event which was initiated by Pope Paul VI during the Second Vatican Council in 1964.
In celebrating this occasion, Pope Francis reminds us that the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is “always a good occasion to recall with gratitude to the Lord the faithful, persevering and frequently hidden efforts of all those who have responded to a call that embraces their entire existence.”
In whichever vocation one finds oneself called – the priesthood, consecrated life, married or single life – it is important that “our life finds fulfilment when we discover who we are, what our gifts are, where we can make them bear fruit, and what path we can follow in order to become signs and instruments of love, generous acceptance, beauty, and peace, wherever we find ourselves”, the Pope noted.
The Lord of the Harvest continues to call labourers in his vineyard, because there are still multitudes in need of inner healing, food for their physical and spiritual hunger, shelter, security and above all peace.
Our world today needs more seeds of hope.
Pope Francis exhorts us that, “This is the goal of every vocation: to become men and women of hope.
As individuals and as communities, amid the variety of charisms and ministries, all of us are called to embody and communicate the Gospel message of hope in a world marked by challenges.”
With thanks to Vatican News
