Do you know what you want to be?

Do you know what you want to be?
Have you asked me? - God
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This may be one of the most difficult questions for anyone to answer: What do you want to be? Or what do you want to do with your life? For six years I worked in high school ministry. Without exception, year after year, the answer to that question would not come easy for our seniors as they looked toward college and the rest of their lives. What to do? What to study? Where to study? Oftentimes they would pick a college, and maybe put off picking what to do in life until later.

Although there were more questions than answers, there was still one answer that they all agreed upon: “I want to be happy.” I guarantee that this is also what God wants. He has a particular plan for each one of us. And this plan, or calling, is already the greatest desire of our hearts. He has planted it there, and throughout our lives He has been creating us to fulfill that call, whatever it may be.

The simple way I have explained it to my students is this: God is the Great C.E.O. of the Kingdom. And as any C.E.O., He wants to “hire” the best people for the job, whatever particular job that is. He will want people who are skilled, and who love what they are doing, because then they will invest themselves in the company, or Kingdom.

Whatever we may do with our lives, every one of us is first and foremost a laborer for the Gospel and for Christ. There is where we will find true happiness – in Him. You don’t know what you want to be? Be first a disciple of Christ. Then ask God to help you find the plan that is already the greatest desire of your heart. In all that we do, we should do them in memory of Him.

Death of Fr. Joseph Linck, former Rector of St. John fisher

After a year and a half battle with cancer, Fr. Joseph Linck passed into his rest at 9:30am on Friday, August 29. This was also the feast of the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist. Without yet knowing that Fr. Joe had passed away, I had given a homily that same morning to the seminarians at St. John Fisher that is like what follows. I have since adapted it upon further reflection since hearing the news.

John the Baptist is known as “the voice” who prepared the way of the Lord. It caused me to reflect at how many saints and martyrs had such a ministry, and how many had followed these saints zealously. But, when they went home to the Lord, where did those disciples go? I thought about how few actually stepped up to continue the mission of the Gospel, following in the footsteps of the one who had so inspired them to follow Christ. Almost as if when their “Voice” had been silenced, there were so few among their followers who made the mission their own. If not you, then who? If not now, then when? On that same day, one of our beloved priests went home to the Lord, a good and faithful servant. He is one of three we have lost over this summer. As we now pray for the repose of the souls of Fr. Kevin Fitzpatrick, Fr. David Krahel and Fr. Joseph Linck, I continue to wonder the same thing over again. Now their “Voice” has been silenced, who will follow their example? Who will now take up the mission and make it their own? Who will trust in the power of the Lord in their lives and say yes, making themselves available for the work of the Gospel, that no one would be lost? Who will respond to the Lord’s request from Isaiah 6, “Whom shall I send?” If not you, then who? If not now, then when?

Fr. Joseph Linck, are a good and holy priest, forever. An example of humility, an inspiration of faith and hope, we pray you hear the Lord say to you, "Well done my good and faithful servant. Come share your master's joy." (Mt. 25:21) We love you and we will miss you, but we know when you are in heaven you will be a great and powerful advocate for us all. May you rest in peace.