If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Thailand.
If I could go anywhere I think it would be Thailand.
I love Thai food, the ocean and beaches are magnificent, and I’ve never been to Asia, so I think I would go to Thailand.

Now, I’ve been lucky because I’ve had the opportunity to do a little bit of traveling both in the US and around the world. I’ve been from Maine to West Africa and many places in between, and I’ve learned a lot about where I would like to go in the future based on my experiences.

I want to go to new places and have unique experiences. I want to be challenged mentally and physically. I want to have quality interactions with people and make good connections wherever I go.

But, most importantly, I want to go where I am being sent. I want to live a good and just life no matter what context I find myself in.

When Jesus appeared in the upper room to the frightened disciples he challenged them by saying, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Wow, what must the disciples have thought to see their Lord after he had been crucified? He was right there with them wishing them peace, calling them to action, and giving them the power to forgive. He was right there with them full of Love even though he had been betrayed by his followers and murdered like a criminal.

It is hard to imagine One with the capacity for this immense love and it is a huge challenge to try and live a life in accordance with the life and teachings of Jesus.

How are we being sent today?
How are we being called?

I have learned that where I would like to go and where I am being called to go aren’t always the same. I do know that I want to serve God, but I also know that I need to do a lot of work on being aware of and listening to God’s will. I have to learn to make choices that are not always easy or comfortable.

We are all unique and are called in very different ways. We hear God’s call differently and are sent to do very different things in our lives.
Our challenge is to decipher how we are being called and to use our talents and gifts to the best of our ability to fulfill those calls.

It would be great if Jesus would stand before us and say I would like you to be a teacher, or I want you to do scientific research, or I think you should be a parent, or you should be a priest, and so on….

Since Jesus probably won’t appear to any of us here, it is up to us to be open and to listen for how we are being sent.

I know that a lot of us are like Thomas and would like some proof as to what we should do. We would like some obvious sign of God’s presence in our lives. Well, there IS proof all around us if we are open to seeing it. Our communities are full of images of Christ if we take the time to notice them.

Let me share three stories about some people I’ve observed this week.

(Renee)
I attended the St. Ann parish dinner/dance auction last night. I, along with a few other Newman volunteers, helped with the auctions and selling drink and raffle tickets. The woman who coordinated the event struck me as a generous image of Christ.

She was very busy ensuring everything went smoothly at the event, yet she was having fun and dancing at the end of the night. She procured thousands of dollars worth of hundreds of donated items for the auctions, and she spent months preparing for this event, but all the proceeds would benefit her parish. This same woman volunteers to come every couple of months to the Newman Center and cleans the house from top to bottom, which is a huge gift. She is married and has two young children and she still manages to give an immense amount of time and energy to her church community. To me she is an example of generosity and service.

(Dan Buck)
On Monday night, I attended a talk that was a part of Homelessness Awareness Week. I met the new CEO of the St. Patrick Center, which is the largest homeless service provider in the St. Louis area. This man spoke about stewardship and why he gave up his lucrative broadcasting career and took a $50,000/ year pay cut to run a non-profit agency.
His story was powerful, and he shared the fact that he felt he was being called to live life differently. He felt he was being called to step out of a career that was all about him and start doing a different kind of work that was focused more on benefiting others. This gentleman was an example to me of how we are called at different times in our lives and that we always have the power to change the path of our journey.

(Jen)
My final story is about a student involved with the Newman Center. She is always ready to give of herself. She works three jobs, yet always has time to help out with special projects or events. She is transitioning out of her role as the president of the Newman Center’s student organization since she graduates in May, but she has agreed to continue to serve on the Board of Directors of the Newman Center next year. She is a very busy woman but she always has a smile on her face. To me this student is an example of how you can live fully and give of yourself as you keep your ears open for your call.

I could come up with many more examples of people I encountered just this week, but I simply wanted to give you some glimpses of God at work in our community.

I also want to connect these stories to the Archdiocesan Development Appeal (or ADA) which begins this weekend.

The money raised from this annual campaign benefits numerous educational and service programs including the Newman Center. This Newman ministry is made possible by the ADA. Our grant from the ADA covers about 80% of our operating budget so with out the generous support of people like you from across the diocese, we would not be gathered here this evening. The programs sponsored through the ADA, like Newman Centers, catholic education, or services from the St. Patrick Center, provide people with the opportunity to experience Christ in their lives.

In the 1st reading from the Acts of the Apostles we heard how “the community of believers was of one heart and mind,” and that “they had everything in common.” They worked as a community to ensure that everyone had what they needed.
That is exactly what the ADA is meant to do; provide resources collected from the entire diocese and share them with those in need. Once a year for three weekends we ask members of parish communities to pledge funds to the ADA. These funds are then distributed throughout the diocese through grants that are applied for by various agencies each year. I encourage you to learn about all the programs that benefit from this campaign on the Archdiocese website www.archstl.org or just go to the links page on our Newman website.

It is important, as members of the church community, to give not only of your time and talent but also to give of your treasure. I know some of you are thinking, “I’m a college student and I don’t have any money to give.” I’m sure that most of you in this chapel don’t have much to give, but our goal here at the Newman Center is to get more participation in this campaign. You don’t have to donate a car payment in order to participate, you can give a few dollars and it will make a difference in this campaign. The diocese makes giving as easy as possible for you and you don’t even have to have any money on you today. You can pledge to make a payment in full at one time, or spread out your payments over a 10-month period. There are pledge cards in the back and if you are on our mailing list there should be one with your name already on it. If you do not have a pledge card in back and would like to give, I will be there to assist you after mass. Also if you are visiting us from another parish, I encourage you to give to the ADA through your home parish.

Yes, we are only human but each of us has the potential to be an example of Christ in this world. We can never live a perfect life, but we can each listen for our call and make choices that challenge us and others to live more like Christ. For in the upper room Jesus gave his disciples the power to forgive sins, he breathed the spirit upon them and he said, “Peace be with you.”

With that kind of understanding, support and love on our side, I feel that each of us can do amazing things wherever we are sent in this world.

So, as the semester draws to a close, think about where you would like to go, and work on opening your heart so that you may experience the grace of the Risen Lord in all who you encounter.

Maybe you will hear a call along the way.