The Gospel reading for Matins this Sunday answers the question “Am I Called?” When you have understood this, you know what to do next.
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
He said to Him,
“Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him,
“Feed My lambs.”
He said to him again a second time,
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
He said to Him,
“Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
He said to him,
“Tend My sheep.”
He said to him the third time,
“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him,
“Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.
This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him,
“Follow Me.”
Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?”
Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus,
“But Lord, what about this man?”
Jesus said to him,
“If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”
This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.
Amen.
Father Bless!
Yes, we are all called to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, we are all called to love our Lord Jesus Christ more than anything else in this life. Yes, we are all called to “feed” others.
But are we all called to “wear black?”
Brilliant question! It’s an evocative title that resonates with Orthodox Christians… and fans of Chuck Norris. Personally, the only time I don’t own a black cassock; I typically wear blue or gray. And more to your point (if I am reading into your question correctly), while all of us are called to life in Christ, very few of us are called to ordination or monastic vows! Despite this… the title stays :-) .
Thank you, Fr. Anthony, but my question did not reference wardrobe. Please forgive me for using a confusing figure of speech.
Terry, black is very classic. Of course, married clergy can wear blue, grey, white, even burgundy I’ve seen – but black is classic clergy.
Thank you, Fr. John, but my question did not reference wardrobe. Please forgive me for using a confusing figure of speech.
Isn’t there a part of this question missing? And that is something specific? I mean in regards to actually doing. Where is it that one isn’t called for anything. I believe the idea is to find out what? WHAT am I called to do? I am interested in learning more on this, as the subject is of interest to me, not just on a practical level for myself, but for others.
Father, pray for me that I can become a priest to Orthodox Church of Finland according to my vocation.