Discernment Part I –
Where my deepest joy meets the world’s deepest need

When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “
What are you looking for?” … He said to them, “Come and see.”
John 1:38-39

Opening Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

Introduction

Our senses are constantly bombarded with, often conflicting, information. We are always being influenced by ads, by peers, and by wanting to fit in. For many believers, finding Jesus’ presence in today’s world is a real challenge – never mind trying to figure out what His call is for you!

We see Jesus in Scripture. We experience Him in Sacrament. We love Him in moments of prayer. We know that through our baptism, each of us has a vocation, but to hear and recognize His call for me in my life takes time, prayer, and someone to walk with. A helpful definition of “vocation” comes from Frederick Buechner: “True vocation joins self and service; it comes from the place where your deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.”

This session will help you to name your “deep gladness.” Continue with Discernment Part II after you have spent some significant time contemplating your joy as you learn more about prayer and naming the “world’s deep need.” In the second part we will try to put it all together to get a sense of personal mission.

Questions young people ask

Part of growing as persons involves asking questions about relationships and what to do with your life. Questions often include:
“How will I know what I am to do?” 
“What will I do after school?”
“Will I ever meet Mr/Ms Right?” “How will I know?” 
“Maybe God is calling me to be a priest, a brother or a sister?” 
What other questions can you add to this list?
(Ask your group for more suggestions. You may wish to write them on a board.)

These questions can seem like problems to be answered or mysteries to be solved. Normal decision-making can be such a cut-and-dry rational process, but questions like the ones above require discernment, a spiritual process not limited to merely the intellectual because you invite God to be your dialogue partner. This is the realm of “call” or “vocation.”

Sometimes, “call” gets confused with priesthood or religious life, and that is not accurate. Vocation means more than being called to the priesthood or religious life. For example, there are vocations to the married life as well as single life. All Catholics have a primary vocation to love and to serve God and all creation, including the environment and all people – those we like and those we do not! This mission comes from our baptism.

Discovering and acting on our mission is what discernment is all about. It answers the questions: “How will I act?” “What will I do with my life?” and most importantly, “Who will I be?”

Reflection, Questions, Understandings, Discussion

(This portion of the reflection process can be done individually, with a group leader asking questions. Encourage the group to write down their reflections in a journal.)

There are periods throughout the year when the Church encourages us to prepare for special feast days. Before Christmas there is Advent and before Easter, there is Lent. These are times of preparation but also of hope and of spending ‘extra’ or ‘special’ time with God. But they are not the only times we are to turn our thoughts to God and to listen to what God is saying to us. Every day is a day for us to discover how God is working in us and through us.

• Are you listening to God or is your life clouded and cluttered by other things?

Stop and reflect on what’s really important in your life. Close your eyes and really examine a day/week in our life. Write down your responses when ready. 

How much time do you spend on:

• Watching TV
• Surfing the Internet, facebook, etc.)
• Video Games
• On the phone or texting
• Praying
• Spending time alone, sitting in a quiet space like a library – just thinking, reflecting, and discerning what your vocation is

(Ask the group to form small groups of about 4 or 5)

In your small groups, discuss:

First commandment:  “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  You shall have no other gods before me.” 

• Based on your answers to the question about how you spend your time? Do we end up primarily worshiping God or material wealth?
• What are our modern-day gods, our modern-day idols?
• Do we take time out of our day to pray, to thank God for the day that has been given us, let alone life itself?
• Do we take time for ourselves? Do we take a break from the hectic pace of life just to relax and to think?
• What makes taking time to pray or for quiet time so difficult? What can you do to make time? Are there ways we can help each other with this?

(Bring the group back to discuss the results of the small-group work focusing on…)

Today’s society, especially in our culture, places a large emphasis on being efficient and accumulating material wealth.

• Does money or accumulating things really make us happy? Does this really bring us true joy?

Point to bring out in discussion: We can have all the wealth in the world – but do you think that will make us truly happy? It’s a never-ending cycle – one will keep wanting more and more of something or an improved version of that product.

True Happiness

From the Catechism…

1723 “(The Beatitudes) teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement – however beneficial it may be – such as science, technology and art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love.”

Thus, we should be making a strong effort to develop a relationship with God and to allow God to speak to each and every one of us.

God loves us first. (2090) “(We) must hope that God will give (us) the capacity to love Him in return and to act in conformity with the commandments of charity.  Hope is the confident expectation of divine blessing and the beatific vision of God; it is also the fear of offending God’s love and of incurring punishment.” Placing things or personal agendas above God are ways of offending God’s love. When we do this, we are ultimately punishing ourselves since we alienate ourselves from God – our true source of happiness.

By taking time out of our busy schedules to relax, reflect and pray, we can calm our minds in order for God to speak to us and call us to address the world’s great need. Then, once we have discerned what God wills, we pray God will give us the strength to carry out that will lovingly and faithfully.

Appropriation/Application of Learning

Invite your group to create a litany of gratitude for their deep gladness and joy. As we live this journey that is life, may we see God’s call for each of us in all that brings us joy. Try to incorporate this litany during a prayer time in the near future.

Closing Prayer

Take a sampling of the litanies of gratitude that were written and create a prayer that begins with the Our Father and then incorporates the things you are grateful for along the lines of:
For the earth and sky. Thank the Lord.
For the friends and family. Thank the Lord.    Etc.

OR

Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
“Swift and beautiful” for thee.
Take my voice and let it sing
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as thou shalt chose.
Take my will, and make it thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart – it is thine own,
Let it be thy royal throne.
Take my love – O Loved, O pour
At thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only – all for thee.

(Frances R. Havergal)

Faith on Film:  Good Will Hunting

Discussion questions:
Will discovered his giftedness. He had to decide how to use this gift. What are the gifts you have been blessed with? How do you use these gifts?
What role does God play in how you use your gifts and talents?
What can you do to trust in God and the plan God has for your life?

Personal reflection:
Set a concrete goal for the next few months on how you can allow God to take the reigns in your life and to discover God’s plan for you.
Set aside time in your daily life to spend time in prayer, allowing God to speak to you.
Find a spiritual director who can help you in your discernment process. If you don’t feel that you are ready for this, find a prayer partner to walk with you on your journey.

Quote:
The Lord will help you to know his will; he will help you to follow your vocation courageously.
Pope John Paul II, Saint Louis, Missouri