Pursue your goals with courage and God’s grace
Most Reverend Owen John Dolan
May it be that those who feel a call to priesthood or religious life will follow it through.
May they bring it to prayer, seek the audience of counsel of trusted friends, priests, religious. Then act on the grace that God offers.
To fail to pursue a goal is sometimes a temptation.
There are so many different ways to follow life’s dreams.
There is a caution which says ‘don’t do it, in case you make a mistake’.
But there is another caution, ‘yes, follow the dream in case you fail to do something very good’.
Our Lord’s fishermen friends spent the night on a lake but caught nothing.
They must have hesitated when Jesus, not a fisherman, encouraged them to try once more. ‘Launch into the deep.’ And they caught a wonderful draught of fish.
A call to give one’s life to Jesus through his Church, to spreading the Good News, to serving God’s people, may mean risk facing the unknown deep water. ‘But know I am with you.’
If prayer and discernment seem to lead in that direction, take courage.
We are not, servants of the Lord, motivated by the rewards.
God is faithful to his promises. A God of surprises.
This is verified by 60 years of living the life of a priest.
The Reverend Dolan recently celebrated 60 years of priesthood and is Emeritus Coadjutor Bishop of Palmerston North.