Vocation Sunday (Year B)

Whatever the motive behind, the Catholic Church celebrates Vocation Sunday on the fourth Sunday of Easter to pray for more generous responses from young people to God's call. There is undoubtedly a steady decline in religious vocation, but so is church attendance especially in the Western world. Everywhere young people do not find church activities and church personnel appealing. Economic prosperity and the wide availability of IT technology are some of the contributing factors. In fact, while global vocation declines, we see more and more missionaries coming from those in economically disadvantaged countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Latin America and Africa etc. South Korea seems to be an exception where we see surges in both economy and vocation. Therefore, we probably should not blame economic prosperity for the decline in vocation. Perhaps we have not prayed hard enough for vocation.
And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Luke 10:2)
Truly, God takes the initiatives to call us to serve Him in different capacities. I am sure He will shower us with enough grace to answer His call. Indeed, some young men among us are responding. Today, a year one seminarian came to share with us his experience. His surname is Yan.
His grandfather was a Catholic and Yan has been brought up in a Catholic family. He had served as an altar boy and took part actively in parish life. In 2005, at the death of the late Pope John Paul II, Yan watched the massive coverage of the media all over the world of the life of this heroic Pope. He was deeply impressed by the great love the Pope showed to the world and his homeland Poland. Yan had worked in Tuen Mun for two years before he decided to enter the Seminary. During these two years, he continually prayed in front of the Marian Shrine in our parish. May Our Lady preserve him in his vocation. Amen.
Fr. Kwan celebrated the 11 a.m. mass with us this morning. He shared with us a little story of his on vocation. He told us that God's call might not be as dramatic as that Saul experience on his way to Damascus. But he was lucky to experience a similar one. He was studying in the minor seminary at that time. When he was in S.3, his father was dying. The hospital called and he rushed to the deathbed of his father. His father's eyes were closed and he was gasping for his last breaths. As if prompted by the Holy Spirit, his mother said loudly if senior Kwan wanted his son to be a priest. Senior Kwan opened his eyes and said yes before he passed away. This was a vivid sign from God and Fr. Kwan had no more doubt about his future life as a priest to serve God. It was certainly impressive though we may not be as lucky as Fr. Kwan. Still, we should keep our hearts open to God's call.
I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me (John 10:14).
Jesus knows us in and out, but we only know him in a limited way. Let us study the gospels and know Jesus more so that when he calls, we will be able to recognize and answer him.

My Lord, I long for serving You. When You want me to be Your instrument of peace, call me. Amen.