Discernment & Vocation

Tonight’s formation is on discernment

Tonight’s formation is on discernment. How do I, in fact, listen to the voice of God in my life, and act upon it? How do I know I’m on the right track?

I’d like to start tonight with the famous calling of Samuel, in the Old Testament, chapter 3 of the Book of Samuel:

Samuel’s Calling and Prophetic Activity

“Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place; the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down within the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called, “Samuel! Samuel!” and he said, “Here I am!” and ran to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the Lord came and stood forth, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening’” Then the Lord said to Samuel, “Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel, at which the two ears of every one that hears it will tingle.”

Samuel becomes a prophet, and fights the corruption within the Levitical priesthood. His prophetic role – speaking the truth to those most in need of conversion. He would also be pivotal in ushering in a Davidic kingdom as he would be the one to anoint King David. I start with Samuel for a few reasons, the main being Samuel is attentive to the Lord.

This passage was also good prayerful food for meditation in the pursuit of my own vocation – and I had it as the first reading for my ordination as a deacon in 2021. Discernment assumes certain dispositions, virtues, and a degree of faith (cooperation with grace, exercising the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, etc).

Three virtues required to properly engage in discernment are:

1. Charity

To love God with whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and neighbour as ourselves.

a. Christian charity desires God as the source and end of all things

b. From this love of God, do we love our neighbour, and seek to serve them for their good.

c. Charity, as an infused virtue, is directed at loving God in the best and highest way we possibly can: discernment needs a target to put our sights on.

2. Humility

“the virtue by which we knowing ourselves as we truly are, and lowers ourselves to the will of another.”

a. Humility sees our true worth before God;

b. It seeks to place his will as our will (like Our Lady at the Annunciation).

c. It echoes the Our Father: ‘Thy will be done one earth...”

d. Therefore, as a virtue it habitually helps us realise that God is

known, loved, and served in all things by placing him above all our desires.

e. In terms of discernment, humility looks to serve God in all things

by placing God’s will over our own. The challenge is to carry out

our vocation in love and joy, especially when it is difficult.

3. Prudence

Right reason in action.

a. In daily living, prudence is the virtue by which we actively choose and pursue the good.

b. Prudence, by its very nature, not only pursues the good but also looks to (morally) good ways to pursue it.

c. A man doesn’t choose a priestly vocation because he doesn’t like marriage, or that he’s living out his parent’s desire for a priest in the family (this was a problem decades ago but is still around).

d. Similarly, a girl doesn’t marry ‘just so she can have kids’ (your spouse isn’t a baby-maker for its own sake).

e. A well-discerned vocation looks through the intentions of the one considering the vocation, examines them and puts them to the test, reflects, and is attentive to the will of God. From these virtues, we begin to build a foundation for discernment. It’s also not exhaustive either, but these are virtues that I found very helpful in my pre- seminary journey and through seminary.

How can we begin to listen for the voice of the Lord?

My advice is this:

1. Give God the time. Are you praying every day?

a. Praying every day is a regular raising of the heart and mind to God.

b. By this regular communication with God, you are practicing an openness and docility to God in your everyday actions – smaller acts of discernment – and larger ones, say, pertaining to your vocation.

c. Adoration is an excellent context in which this happens, but I also encourage you incorporate it into your examination of conscience at some point of your day (usually end).

d. This examination of conscience helps sort out the intentions behind your actions. Are you honestly pursuing God’s will, and if so, how well are you getting closer to your vocation? Or in the cases of those who have found it, how well are you living it, and discerning now how to make that life more fruitful?

e. This also means: limit your social media, increase your silence and spiritual intimacy with God. The more stillness and silence you have, the better. The more recollected you are of your faculties, the better.

f. If you’re clogging up your life with things that drown out the voice of God, it will be harder to listen.

g. In this time, be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Discernment isn’t a map to God. It’s more like putting out a net, casting it as widely as you can, and finding traces of God by which he calls you to himself.

2. Secondly, in prayer, what are you asking for?

a. Certainly don’t ask God to send it to you right here and now. That’s not how he works. Discernment isn’t receiving from God a gift- wrapped box and it all comes down to us perfect and ready.

b. Secondly, pray for a spirit of receptivity. This openness to the Holy Spirit is humility in action; you are saying you want to cooperate with his Holy Will in all docility and attentiveness.

c. So, prayers like ‘Speak Lord, your servant is listening’ or ‘Lord, what is it you want me to receive?’ or some other short quote that works for you.

d. Attentiveness is active discernment; you are looking for God’s marks throughout your day.

3. Do you have a spiritual soundboard? (A spiritual director? A confessor shouldn’t be in this camp by the way).

a. You need someone who has some experience in these things.

b. A good spiritual director, generally speaking, doesn’t tell you what to do. He’ll help you discern whether something is from God, help you unpack it, and then propose ways in which you can move forward to that goal.

c. Your freedom is vital when it comes to spiritual direction and discernment. A director cannot compel you to do something contrary to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in certain cases (as he is a limited created human being too).

d. Your freedom is a sign of the depth of love. Your pursuit of the good – especially in the vocation God has in mind for you – is a gift.

e. A gift is also freely granted and freely accepted in love. Cooperating with God in discernment is a free choice, discernment in following God in our everyday is also an expression of your freely returning that love you’ve received.

f. Let’s also consider Our Lord’s words: “If you can be trusted in small things, you can be trusted in greater things.”

Problems in discernment

All sorts of problems can arise when our relationship with God deepens – from spiritual attacks to apathy, obstacles, and all sorts of questions arise. Some of them might be these:

1. Blocks: how do I push through difficulties in prayer?

a. Generally speaking, a few things:

i. Am I giving God the time? Am I putting the effort of making time for prayer every day?

ii. Am I blocking God out? If so, what is the block? Take the time to reflect on what you’re caught on.

iii. Learnt to persevere. Someone going to a gym while unfit will have to work harder than someone who goes every day.

iv. Be consistent with your prayer, and ask God what’s on your heart. Ask and you shall receive!

b. Remember, there is always a symptom with a cause. Take these things to prayer, bring them to spiritual direction, and let the holy Spirit dissolve anything that blocks you from God.

2. “How do I know if this is from God” question is common.

a. We also know that Satan can appear as an angel of light (St. Paul records this), so:

b. Is what you are discerning a good thing?

c. Are your means of achieving it also good?

d. Do they align with your vocation, or your current state in life?

e. How well are your intentions oriented to this good thing?

f. Give it the time. Eventually, when you are ready, Our Lord will show you what he wants to grant you.

3. Faced with two good things: How do I sort out when I am faced with two good possibilities in the discernment of vocation?

a. When I was in the seminary, for me most of my time was sorting out not if I was called to marriage or priesthood, but monastic life and priesthood. A gospel passage and my spiritual director helped me through this difficulty.

b. Let the battle rage. Be ok with the uncomfortable. I say this from experience. Your character – spiritual character – is forged best in the furnace of hardship. Your cross is best carried when it is difficult.

c. Other virtues should play a role here: fortitude, for example is required in difficulty.

d. Also, know the difference between the marks of consolation (a noticeable presence of the Holy Spirit) versus desolation (a noticeable absence of the Holy Spirit).

e. Fruits of the Holy Spirit are known by these: are they present or absent? What do you notice in your affect (your inner life of emotions, your inner state).

f. Remember, on the larger vocations like marriage and priesthood, for example, a man is still called to fatherhood – one is natural, the other is supernatural.

g. A woman, in marriage or in religious life, is called to be a spouse to her earthly bridegroom, her husband, or to her heavenly and mystical bridegroom, Jesus Christ.

Any issue in discernment can be dealt with, given the right dispositions we have and the right spiritual director. Cooperation with grace is a lifelong pursuit. You don’t stop discernment even when you are ordained, professed, or married.