My Love Letter to God: Answering the Call
Written by: Michael Pavano
The Gospel from the May 14th daily Mass on the day of writing this post. God's timing :)
Written by: Michael Pavano
The Gospel from the May 14th daily Mass on the day of writing this post. God's timing :)
John chapter 15: 9-17
Jesus said to his disciples:
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father's commandments
and remain in his love.
"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you
and your joy might be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one's life for one's friends.
You are my friends if you do what I command you.
I no longer call you slaves,
because a slave does not know what his master is doing.
I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you
and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain,
so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
This I command you: love one another."
It has been my greatest desire in life to answer this call to love and to serve in my own unique way. We all have purpose in this. Life's greatest purpose is revealed when we actively listen for God's call and our greatest adventure begins when we choose to answer that call and go where the Lord is leading us. It may not be where we expected, but it will always be an amazing journey.
Part 1: A Look Back
I felt a call from God when I was very young. My parents were pursuing a new Elementary School for me to attend because I wasn't having a good experience at my present one. All I can recall now is that my parents found St. Paul's and that was when I began attending both the Church and School. I learned later that I informed my parents about the school saying that it was a commercial I had seen on television that led me to want to go there, but there was no commercial around at that time that I would have seen. God had led me there.
I began to fall in love with what I had witnessed. I saw the other students hands folded and praying all together thanking God for the coming day or asking for blessing over food. What captivated me most, however, was when I began to learn more and more about this Jesus, who He was and is and who He desires us to be. Christ commanded that we not only call His name but follow Him and do as He commanded us to do. Something in me always desired righteousness, to follow rules and I had come upon the source of all righteousness and goodness, Jesus.
I think for me the hardest part was always in two parts. The first: Following Christ, and the second: Knowing what Christ needs specifically from me.
As a child following Christ was easier. There was less responsibility and less difficult decisions that had to be made on a daily basis. As I grew older, the decisions that had to be made were more frequent and more complex. Jesus tells us to follow Him wherever He leads and sometimes that means passing through suffering and rejection and even giving up what we want.
I had always had a difficult time figuring out where God was leading me and as many know, still today there are parts of my life that feel clouded in uncertainty, but that's OK. I'd rather be led by Christ on the righteous path through the fog than to take my own path through the clearing to find myself more lost than ever. Remember this most importantly, Christ has a plan for each and every one of us, a plan for you and for me.
I had for a long time deeply considered priesthood. It started at about the age of 16. I fell madly in love with Jesus and His Church and had this deep desire to serve. I got to know many amazing people as I discerned my calling whether it be the calling of a priest or husband and father. Each step of the way I learned more about myself and I learned so much about the amazing journey to becoming a priest. There have been so many priests that have had amazing impacts on my life. Some have passed on and others have moved on to other parishes but each of them have helped me in developing my relationship with Jesus. They have also helped me in many ways personally teaching me what it means to love as Jesus has loved us, without counting the cost. I invite everyone to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life because they are so clearly needed. Priests and religious will always be the leaders and guides of his Earthly Ministry, the Church.
As I discerned priesthood, I began to have deep feelings that God was calling me to have a family of my own. I remember during a Knight's of Columbus meeting I had this very deep feeling as I was gazing upon the cross that there was someone I was about to meet who would impact and change my life tremendously. That person was my wife Brandy, and it is definitely true that my life has certainly changed and that God has touched me in so many beautiful ways as a Father and Husband. This is my calling, my vocation as a layperson with a beautiful family. Within that calling lies a great deal of responsibility which is what this post is truly about. It is often a misconception that priests are the only ones called to be saints and to lead souls to Heaven, but all of us are called to be saints of God and bring disciples to Christ.
I think for me the hardest part was always in two parts. The first: Following Christ, and the second: Knowing what Christ needs specifically from me.
As a child following Christ was easier. There was less responsibility and less difficult decisions that had to be made on a daily basis. As I grew older, the decisions that had to be made were more frequent and more complex. Jesus tells us to follow Him wherever He leads and sometimes that means passing through suffering and rejection and even giving up what we want.
I had always had a difficult time figuring out where God was leading me and as many know, still today there are parts of my life that feel clouded in uncertainty, but that's OK. I'd rather be led by Christ on the righteous path through the fog than to take my own path through the clearing to find myself more lost than ever. Remember this most importantly, Christ has a plan for each and every one of us, a plan for you and for me.
I had for a long time deeply considered priesthood. It started at about the age of 16. I fell madly in love with Jesus and His Church and had this deep desire to serve. I got to know many amazing people as I discerned my calling whether it be the calling of a priest or husband and father. Each step of the way I learned more about myself and I learned so much about the amazing journey to becoming a priest. There have been so many priests that have had amazing impacts on my life. Some have passed on and others have moved on to other parishes but each of them have helped me in developing my relationship with Jesus. They have also helped me in many ways personally teaching me what it means to love as Jesus has loved us, without counting the cost. I invite everyone to pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life because they are so clearly needed. Priests and religious will always be the leaders and guides of his Earthly Ministry, the Church.
As I discerned priesthood, I began to have deep feelings that God was calling me to have a family of my own. I remember during a Knight's of Columbus meeting I had this very deep feeling as I was gazing upon the cross that there was someone I was about to meet who would impact and change my life tremendously. That person was my wife Brandy, and it is definitely true that my life has certainly changed and that God has touched me in so many beautiful ways as a Father and Husband. This is my calling, my vocation as a layperson with a beautiful family. Within that calling lies a great deal of responsibility which is what this post is truly about. It is often a misconception that priests are the only ones called to be saints and to lead souls to Heaven, but all of us are called to be saints of God and bring disciples to Christ.
Part 2: A Leap Forward/The Call of the Laity
Pope Francis has called the Catholic Church a field hospital for the wounded, the weak, and the broken of the world. He calls the Church into action to not stand back hidden behind walls but out into the world to bring Christ's love and healing to all who need it. This is where I believe the laity play a key role and I have seen it myself many times.We need to show that we are followers of Christ. As stated in scripture: "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all men know that you are My disciples." John 13-34-35. We are often the soldiers on the front lines, fighting the battles day to day. We see all different kinds of people in all different situations at work, at school, or in our own neighborhoods. They each have their own struggles in their daily lives and all of them like each of us are looking for answers and ways to get through it all. They are also watching us intently.
When I worked for MARC, I would pray each day in my car before going inside. I would make the sign of the cross say a brief morning offering to our Lord, and again cross myself. One day as I was leaving my vehicle, I was approached by another staff member who mentioned the fact that I pray every morning. I responded that I didn't realize that anyone had noticed me. She said, "Trust me, we notice." I'm always amazed that people know that I am a man of Faith because I am also a man of few words, but again they notice.
When Brandy and I would go to New York for Catholic Underground, I would feel God telling me to bring bags filled with food and drink and daily items for those in need. Inevitably in New York City, people will come up to you asking for assistance. Giving them food, I feel is often the best way to help followed by a God bless you and a short prayer. The idea has again occurred to me with one small addition. When driving around Connecticut, we see people asking for help. A bag filled with some kind of food and drink and a Bible can be the best way to help them, I believe. We all need help at some point in our lives and there is no greater way to help than to show others the love of Christ.
When I was younger, I was so afraid to share my Faith with others for fear of how they would respond. I choose now not to be afraid. As freely as I talk about Brandy and Daniel whom I love, I should feel just as free to talk about the God whom I love and whom loves me. Jesus is the greatest gift bestowed on the world. I feel so deeply in my heart that I want the whole world to share in the glory of this great gift, and that includes my beautiful family. As we grow stronger as a family, we become a more shining example of Faith. Daniel himself will be that great example someday as he shares how an army of believers prayed for him and got both he and us through his surgery, his time spent in the hospital, and the challenges that followed. I want the world to know that we couldn't have done it without our Lord. When I am weak, He makes me strong.
Christ strengthens me to love and to be the best version of myself. I am far from perfect and I am now in a better place to admit that this is ok. Without God, I would fall into sin more often and wouldn't realize the affect that it has on those arounds me. I want to do better for them and for my God. Anytime I resist temptation as a child of God, it is a victory for Heaven. I have the temptation to not give my all on a daily basis, to be lazy in many things, but I cant do that as a disciple of Jesus. Jesus calls us to give everything for everyone as He did when He died on the cross. We need to show the world that to truly be yourself, you need to follow Him and allow him to transform you every day. This is the only way to love others with the sacrificial love of Jesus.
As laity we are called to bring Christ to the entire world which is itself a lifelong mission. May we never forgot that each of us is called by Christ to do something that only we can do because we are all special in the eyes of the Lord. Thank you Jesus for taking us on an amazing journey! Amen
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