For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/051608.shtml
Mary, Queen of Vocations, pray for us!
In working with high school students, oftentimes I find that their faith starts to lose meaning to them unless they can demonstrate it somehow, by serving the less fortunate or by teaching. Admittedly, oftentimes I get frustrated at how little progress teenagers are making in theological knowledge, but the letter from St. James shows how faith and works must grow together. They are partners in discipleship, and there will be times when works undertaken will precede and open the way for a greater confession of faith. Even though faith is always primary, for Jesus says that without Him we can do nothing, St. James teaches us that it is less important to proclaim the victory of faith over works than to realize the two are partners in discipleship. Works support faith and faith supports works. St. James further points out that in fact it is better to perform good works and be ignorant of one's faith than to have faith, but to ignore the needs of a neighbor. Christians, then, should never be so preoccupied with their individual pursuit of holiness that they neglect the work of charity. Jesus reminds his disciples in today's Gospel that if they want to follow Him, they must die to self. Vocational discernment, then, must always move beyond a consideration of trying to fulfill the deepest desires of one's heart, although this cannot be ignored. Imitating Jesus as exactly as we can, which is the foundation of every vocation, requires a consideration not merely of adding something to our lives, but more importantly, requires finding out what needs to be 'substracted' so that people no longer see us, but Christ.
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