You may be wondering why I would choose vocation as the second in this advent series of prayers for peace. The simple answer is that I minister in the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland and on December 2 a beautiful bunch of new Deacons and Priests will be ordained in our cathedral. I wrote this poem for the 2019 ordinands, so I will add it here for the current ones:
As we celebrate the way these people have recognised their calling, and the way their calling has been tested and recognised by the church, and as they are anointed to enter into the fullness of their calling, we also recognise that each of us is called. Each of us has a vocation.
You have a unique contribution to make to the world. So does each person you know. We experience deep inner peace when we exercise our gifts and work with the grain of our passions and see positive transformation in the world because of our work.
But when we are prevented from entering fully into our calling - for example, by being denied access to education or because of prejudice shown by people with power over us, then we experience anxiety. I sometimes wonder just how much of the “bad behaviour” we see in children and adults is the result of frustrated vocation.
We each have a vocation, and as humanity, made in God’s image, we have a collective vocation :
God blessed them and said, "Bear fruit, increase your numbers, and fill the earth - and be responsible for it! Watch over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things on the earth" (Genesis 1:28, The Inclusive Bible)
When each of us is released to fully live into our individual vocation, and as we all work together toward our common vocation, then there will be peace on earth for all creation!
VOCATION God who calls and equips, Whose image we see in every face, And every hand performing every task In which we work together To promote the peace that you intend For all creation: Open a path, we pray, For each of us to live toward That which you have called us Each uniquely to become. And in this way may your Kingdom come And your will be done in this place And in every place, This day and every day. Amen.
Peace be with you!
With love from Rev Margaret
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