A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[239] Deut 4:1, 5-9 Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 Matt 5:17-19

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

This semester, I have been studying abroad in the Dominican Republic. We’ve gotten to learn the history, experience the culture, and build lasting relationships with those around us. And it is only natural because of my new experiences that I have been doing a lot of thinking about who I am and what my place is in this world.

One topic that has been in the forefront lately is that of vocations. In his book Doing the Truth in Love, Michael Himes says that the will of God is what “you most really and deeply want when you are most really and truly you.” And this sounds great, but I’ve realized that in order to find this, you really have to know yourself which can be difficult. It’s so easy to create a picture of yourself in your mind and stick to that idea of happiness, regardless of whether it is actually bringing you joy or not.

But the readings provide a different route. They emphasize our duty to observe God’s statutes and decrees and follow the commandments, and through this we’ll be true to ourselves and discover the will of God. I am beginning to understand that a vocation means living life to the fullest with God by our sides. We don’t know what God’s plan is for our lives and it is only a waste of time to try and comprehend his omnipotence. But if we trust in his wisdom, we too will be a wise and intelligent people. We cannot understand, but we can love—a true and self-giving love—agape.