Vocations

Gospel
John 10.22-30
22At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ 25Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30The Father and I are one.’

Sermon

“My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life”

Today’s gospel is part of the chapter in which the Lord declares himself ‘Good Shepherd’ which is why the church has designated today as ‘Vocations Sunday’. Jesus the Good Shepherd is the perfect icon of the Christian priest.

All Christians are called to imitate Christ but the call of the priest is to be an icon of Christ in a special sense, to stand in the place of Christ in his church. It is not about privilege but shepherd leadership, providing for, and caring for the flock, to the point of self sacrifice, laying down his life for the sheep. I would suggest it is not so much a call to superiority as to suffering. You don’t demand it from ambition but accept it when conscripted. No wonder real priests are in short supply.

God provides priests for his church, and sufficient priests, when the faithful pray for them and offer to provide for them. The challenge of ‘A World Day of Prayer for Vocations’ is not so much to potential candidates as to a believing and expectant church which knows its need of leadership and life, Christ-like in quality. I guess the church gets the priests it really desires – both in quantity and in quality. All priests are called from the people of God and reflect the spiritual temperature of the congregations from which they come. Congregations are reminded by a Day of Prayer, like today, of their contribution in the process of choosing and calling, encouraging and supporting, those among them God wants for the priestly vocation in his church.

This recent Holy Week and Easter we had a visitor living among us who is the General Secretary of the Additional Curates Society, which has its headquarters in Birmingham. It is an Anglican Society that many of our parishes have supported and we here at Dulverton support through our annual charity giving.

The Additional Curates Society was founded in 1837 by a Christian layman, Joshua Watson.

He worked in the family business in the City of London and was a port importer. By 1812, he was able to retire and thereafter devote himself to good works. His achievements were considerable. He founded The National Incorporated Church Building Society which built new churches and The National Society which provided schools for the people moving to live and work in the new industrial areas.

The Additional Curates Society was established to provide for the spiritual needs of people who were moving into the new industrial estates. The clear intention was that people in these new towns should have priests to teach the Christian Faith and minister among them providing the sacraments of the Church. Joshua was joined in his endeavours by a large number of people who shared his vision and generosity. In 1837, the subscription of £500, from King William IV, opened the fund and ACS was born.

For over 170 years the Additional Curates Society has been “Passionate about Priesthood” and as an organisation is committed to doing every thing possible to both pray for and pay for priests.

The patron saint of all priests is St John Vianney, the holy priest and pastor of the village of Ars in France, which is why ACS organizes pilgrimages to his church and tomb there.

In conclusion let me share with you the ACS Prayer for More Priests:

The ACS Prayer For More Priests:

Almighty God, give us priests:
to establish the honour of your holy name;
to offer the holy sacrifice of the altar;
to give us Jesus in the holy sacrament;
to proclaim the faith of Jesus;
to baptise and to teach the young;
to tend your sheep;
to seek the lost;
to give pardon to the penitent sinner;
to bless our homes;
to pray for the afflicted;
to comfort mourners;
to strengthen us in our last hour;
to commend our souls;
Almighty God, give us priests!
Holy Father, you gave us Christ as the shepherd of our souls;
may your people always have priests
who care for them with his great love.
We make our prayer,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.
Amen.