Welcoming the "follow me" of Jesus to be a sign of "the firm
hope that only openness to the horizon of God can give", a hope founded on
the certainty of the "faithfulness of God" and His love. Within
the context of the Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of the Council,
Benedict XVI has chosen the theme "Vocations as a sign of hope founded in
faith" for the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, to be
celebrated on April 21 next year.Since, during the Second Vatican Council, Pope Paul VI instituted the World Day, the Christian communities around the world have been praying for vocations, strengthened by the hope founded on the "faithfulness of God."
"At every moment, especially the most difficult ones, the Lord's faithfulness is always the authentic driving force of salvation history, which arouses the hearts of men and women and confirms them in the hope of one day reaching the "promised land". Hence the sure foundation of hope: God never leaves us alone and is true to his word. "
The faithfulness of God to which we entrust ourselves with a firm hope is born of a love that "He who is Father, pours into our innermost self, through the Holy Spirit."
"And this love, manifested fully in Jesus Christ, engages with our existence and demands a response in terms of what each individual wants to do with his or her life, and what he or she is prepared to offer in order to live it to the full. The love of God sometimes follows paths one could never have imagined, but it always reaches those who are willing to be found".
The Pope then turns to young people to say that " Just as he did during his earthly existence, so today the risen Jesus walks along the streets of our life and sees us immersed in our activities, with all our desires and our needs. In the midst of our everyday circumstances he continues to speak to us; he calls us to live our life with him, for only he is capable of satisfying our thirst for hope. He lives now among the community of disciples that is the Church, and still today calls people to follow him. The call can come at any moment. Today too, Jesus continues to say, "Come, follow me" (Mk 10:21). Accepting his invitation means no longer choosing our own path. Following him means immersing our own will in the will of Jesus, truly giving him priority, giving him pride of place in every area of our lives: in the family, at work, in our personal interests, in ourselves. It means handing over our very lives to Him, living in profound intimacy with Him, entering through Him into communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit, and consequently with our brothers and sisters. This communion of life with Jesus is the privileged "setting" in which we can experience hope and in which life will be full and free!".
Benedict XVI concludes with the hope that young people "in the midst of so many superficial and ephemeral options, will be able to cultivate a desire for what is truly worthy, for lofty objectives, radical choices, service to others in imitation of Jesus. Dear young people, do not be afraid to follow him and to walk the demanding and courageous paths of charity and generous commitment! In that way you will be happy to serve, you will be witnesses of a joy that the world cannot give, you will be living flames of an infinite and eternal love, you will learn to "give an account of the hope that is within you" (1 Pt 3:15)!"