What can World Youth Day (WYD) and the prophet Jeremiah tell us about vocations and careers?

What comes to your mind when you hear the words “World Youth Day”?  Perhaps they evoke images of young people together in great numbers, enthusiastically waving flags and banners, while chanting and singing.  Those who have experienced WYD would know that apart from this beautiful scene, it is an opportunity to be immersed in the host country’s culture – in music, dance, art, food, and stories, just to name a few.

This August, the city of Lisbon will host the young and ‘young at heart’ from all corners of the globe.  In the lead up to this event, the Archdiocese of Melbourne has published a couple of articles on what pilgrims will see and the inspiration behind and history of the event.  While this is a great opportunity for the universal Church to celebrate, each participant also carries with them their hopes and dreams, their fears, and worries.  What will the future hold for them in terms of their relationships, studies, vocation, and their career?  WYD may not give the answers to all of life’s questions, but it can provide time for reflection outside the ordinary experience of life, and a setting which can serve as a springboard to explore various avenues and pathways open to young people today.

You may recall the excitement you experienced when starting a new job or career after years of training and further education.  Others might remember the fear, anxiety, and disappointment of rejection.  For some there is the recollection of the trials and tribulations during one’s career that were overcome by determination, support and encouragement from family and friends, and even through honest prayer and dialogue with God.

The prophet Jeremiah, the author of this Sunday’s first reading, reflects upon the difficulty of his vocation.

‘I hear so many disparaging me, “Terror from every side!
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!”
All those who used to be my friends watched for my downfall,
“Perhaps he will be seduced into error.
Then we will master him and take our revenge!”
But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero;
my opponents will stumble, mastered, confounded by their failure;
everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.
But you, Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice,
who scrutinise the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord,
for he has delivered the soul of the needy
from the hands of evil men.’

Jeremiah was called to be a prophet.  A prophet is God’s spokesperson, a role one would expect demands exceptional skills in speech, and the confidence to deliver confronting messages to the most hostile of audiences.  The challenges and consequences of such a role were many.  Jeremiah’s initial response to God’s calling was “I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth”.  Being young could either mean lacking experience in a particular area or simply being too young.  It may have seemed that God was trying to make Jeremiah’s life miserable by calling him to a role he did not want.  However, perhaps it was the case that no one, other than God, could see Jeremiah’s potential.  His potential was slowly realised through collaboration and commitment to the cause.

A vocation and a career may be different in their meaning, they share the pursuit of contributing to a better society while also giving the person a sense of purpose and mission in life.  As WYD draws near, let us pray then for our young and those discerning how to put their passion and talent to good use.

A special Mass to pray for those going to WYD will take place on Sunday, 2 July at 5.00 pm at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 10 Whitehorse Road, Deepdene.  The young and the ‘young at heart’ are all welcome.

By Fr Hoang Dinh