Finding time to meet God.

  It is not enough to have a vocation in life. Its fulfillment is different for each person. And this daily discovery of our vocation leads us to deepen our love for those for whom we are responsible. Life events often make it challenging for us to find a new direction. After the death of her husband, Anna dedicated herself entirely to God in service in the temple. She could have married another man, but in her search, she heard God’s voice. She indeed sought her next mission in prayer and “counseling” with God.

The prophetess Anna had the gift of the Holy Spirit—the grace to recognize the Son of God present. In the temple environment, in prayer, in renunciation, she opened herself to an encounter with God, who embraced her with his care. In the Holy Spirit, she rejoiced in the salvation of Israel, which came in the newborn Jesus, whom Mary and Joseph brought to the temple to present, as was the Jewish custom for firstborn sons. Occasionally, we complain that God does not speak to us. Such complaints may not be due to some “godly season” of typical dryness in our spiritual life. Occasionally, it is our fault when we drown out the moments when God wants to speak to us. We prevent God from speaking through television, our interests, and the way we solve our problems.

Let us ask what our life paths should be in the vocation we live. Let us pray and listen attentively to discern what God wants from us today. Through regular prayer, we can receive the gift of constant prayer, in which we go through life with a continuous focus on our Lord—the Redeemer. Let us not neglect any prayer that we should pray today. Encouraged by the example of the prophetess Anna, let us devote at least five minutes today to meet Jesus Christ, the coming Messiah and Redeemer. It is He who wants to touch our lives in a healing way. In those five minutes, let us give Him ourselves, our lives, and all that we have. Lord Jesus, provide us with your Spirit, that we may discern what our calling is and how we are to fulfill it.