November 3, 2019

31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Called by Name: Identification and Invitation-Key to Vocations

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

We encounter hundreds of different men and women in the Scriptures. Many of them are nameless. Most of the people Jesus encountered in his ministry remain nameless. At times, we know them merely by their status or titles: Pharisees, Sadducees, Rabbis, and scholars of the Law.
 
Today we meet a man whose name we do know even though he appears only once in the Gospels—Zaccheus, the tax collector from Jericho. He was despised by his fellow Jews because he was a corrupt official of a corrupt system; hardly a man open to spiritual values. But even he joined the large crowd that was so curious to see Our Lord. But Zaccheus didn’t mingle in the crowd. He climbed a tree along the route to get a good view because he was short. Some suggest that he climbed the tree to avoid the people for fear they might be hostile to him.
 
He could not have imagined how that decision would change his life. Our Lord notices him and perhaps asks someone, “Who is that man in the tree?” Our Lord calls him by name: “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” It reminds me of what Cardinal Hume said, “God became man not for a crowd but for each one of us. God never sees crowds, he just sees the individuals.” Not only does Our Lord single him out by name, he invites himself to dinner at Zaccheus’ home.
 
This of course, caused quite a stir but the Lord had a plan in mind that would set Zaccheus on a whole new path in life: a greedy tax collector would become a generous disciple. His life would be transformed. After meeting the Lord, Zaccheus’ life would be transformed. It would be given a new meaning and purpose.
 
This event is a fitting backdrop to what our diocese is embarking upon this weekend and next—a program of vocation discernment entitled, “Called by Name.” Throughout our diocese, I am convinced that there are many who are called to the priesthood but the call is difficult to hear because of the noise of our culture. We are bombarded with many conflicting and confusing messages of how to live life.
 
Today I appeal to everyone here. Like our Lord, I would like you to identify someone you believe has the qualities to be a good priest. Priests are not delivered to the rectories by Santa at Christmas. They come from families and parishes. Our need is great and becoming greater. Many of our priests will soon retire and will have fewer priests to take their place in ministry.
 
I hope that you could identify a young man age 16 through 40 who is prayerful, who loves the Lord, who is successful in school, who has good relationships, who is a people person, a man of integrity, honesty and generosity.
 
We have to help filter out the noise of our culture so that young men can hear the call to a priestly vocation. If you help us identify a young man, the Diocese will invite him to discern the vocation.
 
If you think you might be able to name a potential candidate, I ask you to take a card in the pew. It takes courage, but I ask you to write the name of the person you could see as a good priest in our diocese. Return the card next week in the collection basket or mail or bring it to the parish office.