Inter-Provincial Novitiate

On the Joy of serving God and

Abandoning the world.

Thawatchai  Krasaesing

This chapter reminds me about gift of vocation. God had made me when I had no being and chose me as servant and called me by my name even before I was born so my vocation is a great gift that is given to me; to serve me and to love him. Even though I am weak and have many time sinned against him he still pour out his grace upon me and bring me back to him.

The vocation to be his disciple is not granted to all people. In his this chapter, it is not granted to all persons to abandon the word and to lead a solitary life in God’s services. In the Old Testament especially in the book of Genesis we see that in the beginning God created the world and he gives a special privilege to human beings. They are created in the image and listens of God with full freedom. Who are further me see God chose some men out of all human being to be his own people

“The Lord had said unto Abraham get there out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show there: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless   thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Gen.12:1-3)

This was a call of God to Abram he had the free will either response positives or negatives to this special call. Once Abram responded positives to God’s call and he became the Father of a big nation.

Now coming to New Testament we see Jesus invites some men to be fishers of men. We know that in the Gospel of St. Matthew After that he chose first group of disciple at Sea of Galilee; he saw Simon and Andrew his brother and he said to them,

“Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.Suddenly, they       straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.” (Mt 4:18-21).

They too we can say respond to God’s call freely out of their free will.Another best example for responding to God’s call with free will is mother Mary who she led the invitation of God through angel Gabriel she responded out of the free will “behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Lk1:38).

To response to God’s call is our free choice it’s up to respond positively or negative to God’s call. But we must realize that special call is not granted to all but to some people. And it is a call to serve not to be serve. (Mark 10:45). It’s a call to be with Jesus and to live for him and for the kingdom of God.