Do you promote vocations through your suffering?
Most of us don’t think of our lives as full of suffering, but the reality is that we have plenty of little things every day that we endure. It may be spilled coffee, or a bothersome co-worker; maybe a particularly needy child is trying your patience at home. In 10 seconds, you can probably come up with 10 things you have already suffered through today. Sometimes we endure it well, and sometimes badly. But do we think about these little - or big - points of suffering as an opportunity to gain graces for those discerning a vocation?
Redemptive suffering is a longstanding tradition in the Church, from our Lord’s acceptance of the cross as the supreme redemptive act of suffering to the humiliations, tortures, and trials which the saints endure for their salvation and that of their brothers and sisters. God calls us to take a part in this, to willingly accept and offer up our own suffering in union with the Son for the good of souls.
While it’s probably most common to offer up suffering for those in great need, consider that an increase in holy vocations is also a great need. If we help more people to gain the grace of accepting and living their vocations in a holy way, many more of these grave needs will be met!
Let’s promote vocations through redemptive suffering! Offer up your suffering as a sacrifice for good and holy vocations - God will not be outdone in generosity!