As with every call, the Gospel speaks of an encounter, it is the loving initiative whereby God encounters us and invites us to be part of a great undertaking. Every vocation is a summons to follow Jesus on the path he has marked out for us, for our own happiness and for the good of those around us.
Responding to the Lord’s call involves putting ourselves on the line and facing a great challenge. We are called to be bold and decisive in seeking God’s plan for our lives. Such a decision carries the risk of leaving everything behind to follow the Lord, to devote ourselves completely to him, and to share in his work. Always remember, the Lord promises the joy of a new life that can fill our hearts and enliven our journey.
In Mary, we discover how this young woman’s vocation was both a promise and a risk. Her mission was not easy, yet she did not allow fear to prevail. “It was the ‘yes’ of someone prepared to be committed, someone willing to take a risk, ready to stake everything she had, with no more security than the certainty of knowing that she was the bearer of a promise. I ask each one of you: Do you see yourselves as bearers of a promise? What promise do I bear within my heart to take forward? Ask the Lord to help us discover his plan of love for our lives, and to grant us the courage to walk in the path he has chosen for each of us.
From the Vatican, 31 January 2019 – FRANCIS
