In advance of Vocations Sunday, Revd Canon Angi Nutt, our Diocesan Director of Ordinands (DDO), reflects on our unique calling from God; how we are all called to serve Him in different ways. Find out more about vocations via the Church of England website.
In the Gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of Easter, from John 10, Jesus says, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
As Christians, our vocation, or calling, is fundamental. It’s part of our journey of discipleship, the lifelong pursuit of what God calls us to do with our entire being.
It encompasses how we are called to live, who we are called to be, and how we are called to serve. While we often slip into talking about vocation as meaning a call to priestly ministry or another licensed or authorised role, it’s clear that every person has a unique call from God. That call is part of who we are as baptised Christians, following Jesus and hearing his voice.
Vocations Sunday invites us to focus on and consider this broader understanding, celebrating and encouraging the diverse ways individuals respond to God’s will.
Vocation begins with listening. Like sheep recognizing their shepherd, we tune into God’s voice in our lives. Through prayer, Scripture, wise counsel, and life’s circumstances we are open and receptive to God’s guidance, recognizing our talents and passions, and discerning the needs of the world.
Vocation is personal. God knows you and calls you by name. Discerning your vocation involves deepening your relationship with God to understand how He invites you to serve. God’s call is for you, a beloved individual, it is you shaped, and God given. The writer and theologian Frederick Buechner described vocation as being “where our deepest joy meets the world’s deepest need”. God knows us, he has created us and called us, we can trust that.
Vocation is active. Hearing God’s voice demands a response, requiring a willingness to step out in faith and follow God, even without complete certainty. This “following” involves trusting God, aligning our actions with our beliefs, and pursuing a path that brings fulfilment and contributes to the greater good.
Vocation is lifelong, it is not something we sort out once but a journey of discerning and responding to God’s call. Whatever our age, it’s a call to love, serve, and live out our God-given potential in every part of our lives.
This Vocations Sunday what is God asking of you, in your own calling and in supporting others in theirs?
