The Holy Father invites us to reflect on the story in Matthew’s gospel where Jesus ‘commandeered’ Simon Peter’s fishing boat as a platform to preach the Word of God to a large crowd that was pressing in on him at the Lake of Gennesaret. When He was finished speaking, He invited Peter to "put out into the deep water" and fish. Peter was resistant. He had been fishing all night without any luck so he saw little hope for a catch in the bright light of day. All the same, he fished the waters and caught an astounding number of fish. This was the moment where Jesus invited Peter to become his follower.

"Put out into the deep" (Mt. 5:4) is the theme for this year’s World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I find it a rich text for reflection for me as well as for the women and men whom I have and am accompanying on a journey of vocation discernment. The Pope reminds us that seeking one’s true life vocation is often not a simple process with immediate and clear direction. This discernment may very well require a persistent effort. This is all the more difficult when previous efforts have not been fruitful.

It can feel very much like Simon Peter’s situation. He is a fisherman who knows how to fish. He has given it his best shot without success and is now being directed to try again. How difficult to continue an effort when there appears to be little chance for success. The wisdom of the world would be ‘give it up’ or at least, ‘let it rest for now and try later.’ The Holy Father speaks of this as "…a widespread mentality which, in face of difficulties, favours personal non-commitment." Finding something of value requires significant effort. This is certainly true of discerning and embracing your life’s calling. You can’t skate on the surface. You have to dig into who you are, face your truth and be ready to be led in ways that may very well be surprising.

It seems so much easier to live without commitment. The attitude of ‘whatever’ can appear to be a form of freedom. It says, "I don’t care what happens. I don’t care what you are saying to me. It makes no difference to me." At first glance this appears as a form of invulnerability. The one who can say such words seems to be in complete control. In point of fact he or she is hiding in the defense of despair. We do care about what is (or is not) happening in our lives. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

In his exhortation the Holy Father reminds us that prayer is what allows us to ‘put out into the deep’. Prayer leads us to see that Christ is "present to us in moments of apparent failure, when tireless efforts seem useless". I have witnessed the great power of this sort of prayer. For several years my congregation, the Adorers of the Blood of Christ, has sponsored a program called Life Choices ® that helps women and men discern their life’s calling. Again and again I witness the participants struggle with profound issues in their lives and find the answers they need in prayer. The Holy Father suggests that those who open their hearts to Christ will understand the mystery of his or her existence as well as their vocation. I have repeatedly been the humbled and honored observer of such discovery.

We who are parents, educators, priests and consecrated persons receive a word from the Holy Father as well. He reminds us that God has entrusted us with the task of guiding young people and seekers on their path to holiness. We do this best by the example of our lives. Do our lives, our words, our example reveal the face of Christ? This is an enormous challenge to us. It is a reminder of the profound responsibility we have to those who are hungry to know Christ and to identify their path in following Him. We can be discouraged when we feel that our efforts have resulted in little fruit. We must be ready again and again to ‘put out into the deep.’ We most effectively do this by heartfelt contact with the seeker. We cannot ‘mail in’ our attention to their life’s question. We have to convey our deep love for the man or woman who is discerning a vocation; our deep concern for their struggle. We too are well advised to root our efforts in prayer.

The Holy Father has provided us with a wonderful prayer for this World Day of Prayer for Vocations. I would like to end by quoting a part of his prayer.

Jesus, Son of God, in whom the fullness of the Divinity dwells, You call all the baptized to "put out into the deep", taking the path that leads to holiness.

Waken in the hearts of young people the desire to be witnesses in the world of today to the power of your love. Fill them with your Spirit of fortitude and prudence, so that they may be able to discover the full truth about themselves and their own vocation.