From the Inside

Are you interested in a seminarian's perspective on seminary life, discernment, issues, and frequently asked questions? Here is Luke Strand's column for men thinking about priesthood.

Making a Gift...for Jesus

Decisions, decisions, decisions…. It can be too easy for us as individuals in discernment to think of our vocation as just another decision—something that we choose according to a careful analysis of pros and cons or likes and dislikes. Often in discernment we are so focused on ourselves—what will be best for me, what will give me the most happiness, what will I get out of this choice—that we forget about the most crucial dimension of discernment: the will of God. Only through an experience of Jesus Christ will we understand what will be best for us, what will give us the most happiness, and what will lead us to the greatest fulfillment (2 Cor. 12:9). Therefore, discernment is not as much about a decision as it is about a commitment…a prayerful commitment to self-gift (Mt. 16:25).

It’s nearly impossible to ever take a step in discernment without getting beyond ourselves through the process of making a complete gift of ourselves. We can mull over, sort through, and analyze a difficult decision year after year. If we do not challenge ourselves by prayerfully making a genuine self-gift, it will be very difficult to discover God’s call. We will continually ponder the potentiality of making a decision, rather than coming to the realization that the way has been pointed out for us by Christ Himself (Prv. 16:9). If our hearts are truly focused on Jesus and His will in our life, we will not only hear the words, “Follow me,” but will have the courage to respond. This response to Christ is where our vocation comes to fruition, where we as Christians strive to be imitators of God, united in His love.

“Make a gift?” you ask. How about helping out at your parish with religious education, RCIA, liturgical ministries, or even office work? Have you thought about going on a mission trip, serving at the local soup kitchen or homeless shelter, visiting the sick, calling a friend whom you know is depressed, ministering on a college campus, starting a Bible study group, helping with pro-life work, and most importantly, before all the others, praying in front of the Blessed Sacrament! The opportunities are bountiful. If you can’t think of anything, ask your pastor, or better yet, start something!

My name is Luke Strand and I am a 1st year theologian at St. Francis Seminary. In my own discernment, it took months to accept that God might be calling me to the priesthood. Through His grace, I had begun to respond to my universal call to holiness, a call that we have all received. But this call to priesthood, where did it come from? It was not something I expected, anticipated, or even really wanted. Yet through daily prayer I knew in my heart that God was calling, and as I continued to pray and struggle to make a gift of myself, the call became stronger and stronger. How blessed we are to be discerning God’s call to priesthood! If you have any questions, concerns, or if you would just like to talk, please contact me as I will be the student intern in the Vocations Office this year. Oh, don’t forget to check out ourDiscernment Group at www.thinkpriest.org/discernment/post_college.html

Blessings and Peace in Jesus and Mary,

Luke Strand, Seminarian

For past columns, click on the link below that interests you.

May 2004 - The Joys of Priesthood (Word Document)

May 2004 - The Joys of Priesthood (PDF File)

Spring 2004 - Answers to Some Questions (Word Document)

Spring 2004 - Answers to Some Questions (PDF File)

Winter 2003 - Giving the Gift of Self (Word Document)

Winter 2003 - Giving the Gift of Self (PDF File)

Fall 2003 - Community (Word Document)

Fall 2003 - Community (PDF File)