The Voice of the Good Shepherd

When I was a boy, our parish had a vocation committee whose responsibility was to promote religious vocations, meaning more priests and nuns to serve the Church. I guess I could be considered a fruit of that ministry; at least the pastor considered me and one other guy who became a diocesan priest as “his” vocations, since he bequeathed to each of us one of his chalices after he died. My formation on and understanding of vocation, therefore, amounted to convincing young men and women to respond to the “call” and get thee to a nunnery or seminary! I have since come to understand vocation so much broader now: a sincere and authentic response to God's call. The possibilities are endless yet what has never changed is the source of vocation: God. 

In the stormy chaos of so much social, political and even religious “noise” in the world today, the voice of the Good Shepherd gently calls out to us, offering us calm from the storm and a peaceful presence to placate our fears, strengthen our faith and guide us on His path. The great challenge of spiritual discernment, and thus vocation, is to attune our ears to recognize His voice above the din with His power to save us from the dead ends and fruitless diversions that tempt us elsewhere. 

Discernment is achieved by means of our growing understanding of God; through our traditions (great and small), through prayer/sacramental encounters, and in the way we interpret life experiences. I also want to emphasize how we are called through and for community! I am a Franciscan and a priest (now 25 years) because of the formative role of community, and I can only hope that my vocation has likewise helped to form and nurture others. 

When we attune to the voice of the Good Shepherd, young or old, we are renewed each time and grow closer to living our divine purpose, our vocation. May Mission Santa Barbara and St. Barbara Parish be blessed in continuing the ways the faith community here has nurtured vocations for the people of God.

Together with you in vocational discernment,

Fr. Daniel Barica OFM