Christian Lifestyles

1. Christian Lifestyles Spring 2013

2. Vocation • In order to figure out our vocation, we first must have self-awareness • What does it mean to be self-aware? • Self-awareness helps us figure out who we are, what our values are and who God had made us to be

3. Vocation • The word vocation comes from the Latin words, vocare, which means to call, and vocatio, which means a summons • Beuchner: A vocation is the “intersection between the deepest desire of your heart with the world’s greatest need” • Some people believe that the words vocation, profession and career are synonymous • That is wrong- vocation connects with the deepest needs of humans and that you as a person are most passionate about

4. Christian Idea of Vocation • Vocation is a calling from God • The first and ultimate call of each person is the call from God to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him • Why do we have this call? • Because we are made in God’s image • Human’s are religious by nature and it differentiates us from the rest of creation

5. Christian Idea of Vocation • We are social beings- God did not create us to be alone • God established a chosen people in the Old Testament and Jesus, through His death and resurrection, established a Church to carry on his mission • The Church’s mission, or vocation includes all of our individual callings • We are called to participate in the Church’s mission by living out our personal vocations as God’s people

6. How do we do this? • How do you live out your Christian vocation now? • By using our God-given gifts • God doesn’t wait until we are all adults to give us graces and blessings- we are all part of the Church from our Baptism and are called to live lives of holiness • The Church uses the word “Vocation” to refer to a person’s response to one’s baptismal calling to love and serve God and others

7. Four Christian Vocations • Single lay people • Married lay people • Ordained minister • Consecrated Life People in these groups may have different jobs or careers but they are doing what brings them a sense of happiness, accomplishment and fulfillment

8. Universal Call to Holiness • Prior to Vatican II, Church documents referred to Catholics as “subjects” • Focus on the hierarchical structure of the Church: pope, bishops, clergy then laity • At Vatican II, the Church began to use the phrase “People of God”- it affirmed the common identity and equal dignity of everyone in the Church • By virtue of our Baptism, we are called to be participants in the priestly and prophetic mission of the Church

9. Universal Call of Holiness • “Those members of the faithful who are not in holy orders or religious life. They are, by Baptism, incorporated into Christ, made to share in his priestly, prophetic and kingly work and empowered to play an active part in the mission of the Church” (LG) • “The laity live ‘in the world.’ This is where they do God’s work. . . The laity serve to illuminate the world with the light of Christ.”

10. Sin: The Obstacle to Holiness • The word sin comes from the Hebrew word “Hatah” • The word literally means “to miss the mark” • The idea of the seven deadly or capital sins originated in the 6th Century with St. John Cassian and Pope St. Gregory the Great • Capital means “head”….Capital sins lead to many other sins

11. Seven Deadly Sins • Pride: excessive belief in one’s own abilities that fails to give credit to God • Avarice/Greed: Desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the spiritual realm • Envy: Desire for others’ traits, status, abilities, or situation. They desire to possess what others have. • Wrath/Anger: they turn against love of others and embrace fury

12. Seven Deadly Sins • Lust: The obsessive craving for the pleasures of the body. They desire to experience physical and sensual pleasures, ignoring the spiritual desires. • Gluttony: The obsessive desire to consume more than that which one requires. It is trying to consume more of anything that you actually need. • Sloth: avoidance of physical or spiritual work. It could be laziness but it can also be translated as apathy- not caring about anything or anyone

13. Discernment • Discernment is the process of figuring out how your personal gifts steer you towards different careers and lifestyles • Explore: discover possibilities while having the right motives • Seek: direction by looking to Scripture, Tradition and teachings of the Church • Ask: advice from wise and knowledgeable person of integrity • Assess: your needs, abilities, experiences, etc. in terms of what God might be calling you to do • Pray: privately and in community on your vocation

14. Vocation in the O.T. • In the Old Testament, the Jewish people were called to a special relationship with God, they were God’s “Chosen People” • God’s promises to His people throughout the years was through covenants • Covenant: a sacred promise between God and His followers • In the O.T., God made covenants with the Israelites on numerous occasions • Calls took on numerous forms, and to numerous people, but God was always leading them to Jesus

15. Vocation in the N.T. • God’s covenant made in Genesis with Noah and Abraham was fulfilled by Jesus • Jesus’ mission was to bring salvation to all humankind • Even before Jesus’ birth, people were called to a vocation in the N.T.: Zechariah and Elizabeth and Mary and Joseph • Once Jesus’ public ministry begins, he begins to call disciples and apostles • Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, Phillip, Thaddeus, Bartholomew, Thomas, James, Simon, Matthias

16. Vocations for Christians Today • The Apostles were the first Christians- At Pentecost, they were commissioned by God to go forth and evangelize • Evangelization is the spreading of the Good News of Christ • Today, we share in that vocation, to go out and spread the Good News of Christ through our actions and words

17. The Holy Spirit • The Holy Spirit, part of the Trinity, is what sustains us and helps us in our Christian vocation of discipleship • We assert this duty as adult Christians through the sacrament of Confirmation • The Catholic Church has identified different gifts that the Holy Spirit gives us

18. Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit • Wisdom: gives us the power to see things from God’s perspective • Understanding: Gives us a to truly comprehend Jesus’ teachings and the Tradition of the Church • Counsel (Right Judgment): Helps us know what to do in difficult situations • Fortitude (Courage): ensures a confident spirit of resolution, firmness of mind and strong will to overcome obstacles

19. Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit • Knowledge: Enables us to judge what is happening in relationships, the environment, and social situations • Piety (reverence): places us in the right relationship with God • Fear of the Lord (wonder and awe): inspires us with awareness of God’s majesty and the fact that God created us in his image

20. Called to Eucharist • The source of inspiration for all Christians, from the Apostles to those today, should be the celebration of the Eucharist • It recalls the Last Supper • “Do this in memory of me” • Walk to Emmaus • Through the Eucharist, we affirm our discipleship and membership in the Church

21. Call to Service • Another important part of the Last Supper was the washing of the feet • This ritual is performed every Holy Week as a reminder of our call as Christians to serve others as Christ did • The Catholic Church in particular has invested in the service of others through schools, hospitals and other social service agencies