A Week of Prayer for Vocations

I invite you to spend a week praying either alone or with a group about vocations.

Day 1: Genesis 12:1-4a
The LORD said to Abram: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you." Abram went as the LORD directed him, and Lot went with him.

Reflection Questions:
1. In today’s Scripture reading, we hear of how God calls Abram to be his follower. As Catholics we believe God calls each one of us to be His follower. What do you think God is calling you to do?
2. God promises to bless Abram if He answers his vocation call. What do you think some of the blessings are for those who answer God’s call today as priests? religious? married people, or faith-filled single people?

Day 2: Genesis 3:1-6, 9-12
Meanwhile Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. Leading the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. So Moses decided, "I must go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned." When the LORD saw him coming over to look at it more closely, God called out to him from the bush, "Moses! Moses!" He answered, "Here I am." God said, "Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your father," he continued, "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob." Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. So indeed the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have truly noted that the Egyptians are oppressing them. come, now! I will send you to Pharaoh to lead my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and lead the Israelites out of Egypt?" He answered, "I will be with you; and this shall be your proof that it is I who have sent you: when you bring my people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this very mountain."

Reflection Questions:
1. God called Moses to a special role while Moses was hard at work, how might God be calling you to witness to Him at work or at school?
2. Moses did not feel worthy of God’s call but God promised to be with Him. As Catholics we believe God give us what we need to fulfill our mission in life. Share with your family a time in which God helped you do something that was difficult.

Day 3 1 Samuel 3:1-10
During the time young Samuel was minister to the LORD under Eli, a revelation of the LORD was uncommon and vision infrequent. One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am." He ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." "I did not call you," Eli said. "Go back to sleep." So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. "Here I am," he said. "You called me." But he answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep." At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me." Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Reflection Questions:
1. Samuel almost missed God’s calling but Eli helped him hear God’s call. Who are some of the people in your life that help you answer God’s call?
2. Samuel was taught to answer God’s call “Speak for your servant is listening.” How do you respond to God’s call?

Day 4 Isaiah 1, 6-8
In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar. He touched my mouth with it. "See," he said, "now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged." Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" "Here I am," I said; "send me!"

Reflection Questions:
1. Isaiah discovered God’s call for him while praying. How often do you pray and when you pray do you ask God to let His will be known to you?
2. Isaiah found God in prayer in his Church. Why do you think Catholics are supposed to go to Mass every Sunday?

Day 5 Jeremiah 1:4-9
The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. "Ah, Lord GOD!" I said, "I know not how to speak; I am too young." But the LORD answered me, Say not, "I am too young." To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth!

Reflection Questions
1. How does it make you feel that God knew you before you were even in your mother’s womb?
2. Jeremiah thought that he was too young to serve God but God told him otherwise.. Share with your family some of the things that are keeping you back from following Jesus more closely.

Day 6 Mathew 9:35-38
Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest."

1. Why do you think Jesus uses the image of a shepherd for His ministry and the ministry of his disciples?
2. Why do you think Jesus wants us to pray for vocations? Why does God just not give them to us?

Day 7 Luke 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

1. Peter, James, and John are not rich, famous, powerful, but these are the people Jesus called. Why do you think that Jesus called them? Do you ever fail to follow Jesus because you believe that you have to be rich, powerful, or famous for Jesus to want you?
2. Peter realizes that he has made mistakes and has sinned a lot. He begged Jesus to leave Him but instead Jesus shows Peter that He loves him even in the mists of all his sins and even though Peter is not perfect. What does it mean to you that God loves you and calls you even though you also are a sinner and are not perfect?