OK, so maybe the notion that the Village People were just as interested in piquing vocational reflection as, say, getting free drinks at every bar in the Tenderloin is hopelessly naïve. But just look at them - those gaudy costumes, making definitive statements about each profession, all to that pulsating disco beat – who doesn’t have a good time when they’re in the room? What better band could be playing Advent III's ‘Gaudete’ anthems (not to mention wearing pink)? Whether they mean to or not, the Village People remind us of something important to all of us who are looking for contentment in the most time-consuming activity in which we will ever engage: our work.

On this third Sunday of Advent vocation is on our mind.

In our gospel we hear for a second week in a row about John the Baptist, a man with a mission, a man with a job. And we can’t help it if we’re somewhat envious of him - his vocation, as advance man to the Star. We marvel at his contentment, conviction, and strength of character in his calling. We wish we had such determination in our chosen fields.

Our longing for vocational fulfillment is natural.
Our discovery of it is often supernatural.

Advent, more than any other time of year, asks us to wrestle with our jobs – or to use the religious term, our ‘vocation,’ It is the fit we feel between who we are and what we spend most of our time and energy doing. And not just the work we do for pay – but our volunteer work as well.

Are we a good fit with the activities that we embrace?
Are we in the right vocation?
How can we know?

Here’s a list of questions that can be helpful in assessing your work, whatever it might be. How might you answer them?

1. Does my work interest me?
2. Is there a chance for advancement, and does it matter?
3. Does my work fit in with my personal vision for my life?
4. How’s the pay?
5. Does my work fit it well with my education?
6. Does my work fit in well with my skills?
7. What does the future of this industry look like?
8. How strong is the organization I’m working for?
9. Do I fit in with the organization’s vision?
10. Do my personal values fit in with the organization’s?
11. What’s my gut feel for the job?

Here’s an old proverb, ‘When the Messiah comes, the Messiah will not ask if I was David!’ In the same way, you and I will never be asked if we are Mother Teresa or Billy Graham, we will be asked if we are who we are. How does our vocation reflect this? How might Christ be calling us to examine our work – and to change?



Resources and References
Holy Adventure: Forty-one Days of Audacious Living- Bruce Epperly
Let Your Life Speak- Parker Palmer
Listening to your Life- Frederick Buechner
www.processandfaith.org/lectionary/YearB/2008-2009/2008-12-14%20Advent3.shtml