The decision to follow Christ

The young person in the Gospel replies to Christ “What still do I lack?” This question reveals the aspiration which is hidden in all of us to “something more”. In an encounter with Christ we discover not only the need to respond in goodness to the challenge of our lives, but we discover that love is not just a commandment – it is a gift. Christ calls us not just to goodness, but to perfection.

“The love of Christ has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.” (Rom 5:5)

In Christ we know that we are called to holiness. In him we experience an interior transition – living not just by God’s law, but by God’s love – giving our lives that love might be perfected in us. In Christ we discover that we are capable of living in a better way – not just living by moral obligation, but by a true giving of ourselves. He calls us to a fuller expression of the plan of life which we have begun to construct and, we see the outline of our Christian vocation.

The words of Christ to the young person in the Gospel are addressed to young people in every generation - “Follow me”. These are the words he addresses to those he wishes to become priests or religious, and to those whom he calls to bear an exceptional witness before other people to the love of God.

If you hear his call in your heart, do not silence it. This call is a part of the development of your personality as a man or a woman and it is the origin of your Christian vocation. Respond to it through prayer and fidelity to the commandments. There is an enormous need for many to be reached by Christ’s call. We need priests according to the heart of God, and we need the witness of lives given to God without reserve – witnessing to the nuptial love of Christ in religious vocations.