Homily for Vocation Sunday 

Today is vocation Sunday. Its a time when we talk about how God calls each of us to follow Him and to serve and witness Him to others. God has created us to want Him. By our baptism, he has inscribed his love on our hearts and we will be restless until we know Him. In the Gospel, Jesus asks the two disciples, “What are you looking for?” People look in so many places trying to fill their longing for God and their desire to love. They will seek to accumulate things or power. They will have many sexual relationships. They will try to seek comfort in drugs or alcohol. None satisfies, but only a life lived with, in, and for Jesus Christ. The question that Jesus asks you is what are you looking for? 

Ultimately, we are all wanting to be happy says St. Thomas Aquinas. This happiness comes from a life lived in love with God and his people. When we find this happiness, we know that we do not have to search anymore. Jesus is here before us saying, Why are you searching? Your search has come to an end. Here am I, your Lord. As his disciples, we are called by Jesus by name to help others discover His true love. We are called to be faithful to the commandments of Jesus and to show others why being Christian is one of great joy, peace, and significance. And we are called to speak about our love for Jesus Christ. This is what is means to have a vocation as a disciple of Jesus. Is this your vocation?

I think it is also a good time now for me to speak of the way that Jesus Christ has called me specifically to be his priest. Like Simon Peter, Andrew, and John Jesus has called me by name to follow Him as his priest. 

My vocation story begins when I was 18 years old. At the end of my studies in high school, I began to believe in God and in Jesus Christ. Almost immediately, I had this thought that came into my mind which I believe was from God himself. It said, “Jason, will you be my priest?” What do you think I said? I said, no! I like girls. I want to get married and have children. I want to have fun in my life. I tried to forget about the question and continue with my life. But, God had captured my attention and my heart. I went to a number of bible studies and started to pray everyday to Jesus. This question came back almost two years later. I went to a fraternity party in Austin, Texas. 

My friends and I were talking on the front lawn of the House during a raging party. We were talking about our faith and somehow the Eucharist came up. One of my friends said that as Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. I responded, we do. She said, yes, look at the sixth chapter of John. I looked and found what she was talking about. I read Jesus say, I am the Bread of Life. ... He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall have eternal life. I went to Mass shortly after, and my eyes were open, I knew at that moment that this is true and that I am fully a Catholic Christian.

Almost immediately, the question came back into my mind. Will you be my priest? With a growing love for the Eucharist, a deepening prayer life, the Lord saw that it was time to bring this question back to the front of my mind. It still scared me but I was willing to pray about it. I told God that I would spend 1 month praying over this question so that at the end, He could tell me how silly a thought this was. I prayed fervently for 1 month and at the end, I sensed deeply in prayer, that God was asking me to draw closer to Him and to His Church and then He would let me know. I thought that this was a fair deal. 


I went to a retreat in which I went to Confession for the first time in five years. I prayed the rosary for the first time. I began to serve the Church on Sunday’s and helping with other retreats. I began to go to Mass every day. Then the question came back. “Jason, will you be my priest?” This time, I was open to the question. I was more full of joy than I had ever been. I felt like life had great meaning. I enjoyed so much doing things for the Church and loved God so much. I saw priests around me who loved being a priest. So I began to actively think about this question. As I prayed about it, the more I wanted to be a priest. 


I had one question left before I said yes to be a priest of Jesus Christ. I asked the Lord. Will this be something that I can do? Do I have the ability to be a priest and is it something that would bring me joy? See. I was nervous to speak in front of people and I had a hard time getting to know new people. I took this to prayer and was kneeling before Jesus in adoration. That is where we put the Eucharist in a metal container called a Monstrance for all to see. I looked at him and began to feel warm and full of love and joy. A thought entered my mind that said. “Jason, I have already given you the gifts and if you follow me, it will be your greatest joy.” On that February day in 1998, I said Yes, I will be your priest. This began a process that led me to seminary to being here before you as your priest. 

Yes, Jesus, I will be your priest. It has been the happiest and most joyful decision that I could have made. I want you to think about the young people in your lives and tell them that you would love for them to be married, to be a priest, or to be a religious. Speak well to them of the priests in your lives and help them be open to being a religious sister or priest. Jesus is calling. He is asking you, What are you looking for? What is your answer?