We all know that today the faith is still contested, is indeed again being contested, with the aim of attacking and overcoming us, so that we ask: Isn't it all in vain? How is the wretched power of the faith to survive among the gigantic powers of this world? Must it not simply be crushed between the world powers of atheism, must it not simply give in before technology and science and all their potential and discoveries? Must it not simply capitulate before egoism and the covetousness that have become overpowerful and can no longer be restrained?' And we might ask: 'Does it still make any sense today to become a priest, a sower of the word? Are there not for a young man more promising, more profitable and more successful occupations in which he can better develop his gifts?
Isn't the whole thing then a hopelessly outdated cause? Isn't the time past when the faithful hastened to church? Do you not see, we hear people say, how everything is slowly but surely crumbling away? How [can you fight] a losing battle?
In fact God is still continually moving incognito through history. He is still continually veiling his power in the garb of powerlessness. And still continually the true values, the divine values, truth, love, faith, justice, are the forgotten and powerless things in this world. And yet--this parable says: 'Be comforted!' God's harvest is growing: however much there are also fellow-travelers who run away as soon as this seems advisable; however much is done in vain, somewhere the word is ripening. Even today. Even today it is still not in vain that there are people who venture to proclaim the word and to be there for the sake of the word; who venture to resist the flood of selfishness, of covetousness, of unscrupulousness, and to build a dam against it. Somewhere in silence their seed is ripening. Nothing is in vain.
--Joseph Ratzinger (Benedict XVI), Ministers of Your Joy, pp 15-16
Does vocation still mean anything today?
Face problems squarely--they are sent by God
Reflecting on the liturgy of the Word on the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles, the Pope drew a lesson from an episode in the life of the early Christian community. The passage describes the Greeks and Jews arguing over practical necessities: in particular, the aid to be given to widows.
Pope Francis commented that, rather than openly address the problem, their first reaction is one of whispered criticism and gossip.
“But this does lead to any solution, this does not give solutions. The Apostles, with the help of the Holy Spirit, responded well: they summoned the group of disciples and spoke to them. And this is the first step: when there are difficulties, we need to look closely at them, and confront them and speak about them. But never hide them”.
Pope Francis noted this is what the Apostles did: they did not hide the problem, but assessed it, made a decision without equivocating. Having understood that their first duty “was prayer and ministry of the Word”, they appointed deacons who would assist them in the ministry of service.
The Holy Father continued this theme, referring to the Gospel of the day in which Jesus rescues the disciples from the stormy lake:
“We must not be afraid of problems: Jesus himself said to his disciples: ‘It is I. Do not be afraid’. In life’s difficulties, with problems, with new things that we must face: the Lord is always with us. We may make mistakes, certainly, but he is always with us and says: ‘You made a mistake, now get back on the right path (…) Masquerading life, disguising life, is not a very good way to behave: no no. Life is what it is, that’s the reality. It’s exactly as God wants it to be, or as God allows it to be, it is what it is, and we have to accept it as it is. And the Spirit of the Lord will give us the solution to our problems.”
“It is”, the Pope said, using an effective metaphor that is dear to him “a little like the goalkeeper of the team, isn't it? He grabs the ball wherever it comes from. This is the reality.”
Pope Francis repeated the words of Jesus to his disciples: “It is I, do not be afraid!” In our darkest moments, when we don’t know what to do, we must always remember these words of Jesus. Thus, concluded Pope Francis, we should learn to take life as it comes with the help of the Holy Spirit. “In this way we can move forward, certain of being on the right path”:
“We ask the Lord for this grace: to not be afraid, to not falsify life, to take life as it comes and look to resolve problems as the Apostles did, and also seek out the encounter with Jesus who always at our side, even in the darkest moments of life”.
-http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/04/13/pope_francis:_learning_to_take_life_as_it_comes,_the_good_with_the_bad/en1-682625
-http://www.news.va/en/news/no-gossip-no-fear