HEED THE CALL

Summary

The speaker reflects on the universal human aspiration for greatness and how it transcends material success. He shares his personal journey from aspiring to be a baseball player and musician to finding his true calling as a priest. He emphasizes that discerning God's will is not limited to religious figures but is a universal quest. The speaker conveys the profound joy and fulfillment he experiences in serving as a priest, particularly in the miracle of the Eucharist, and encourages young men to embrace their vocation without fear, as it aligns with God's plan for happiness and fulfillment.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Young men often aspire to greatness and seek a deeper meaning and purpose in life.
• 🙏 Christians believe in a personal God who has a plan for each person's life.
• 🕊️ Everyone has a vocation, a calling from God, which is discerned through prayer and reflection.
• 🎓 The foundational vocation is to married life, with some being called to priesthood or religious life.
• 🏆 The speaker initially aspired to be a baseball player and later a musician like Billy Joel.
• 🎵 A pivotal moment at a Billy Joel concert led the speaker to consider other plans for his life.
• 💡 The realization of a different calling came when the speaker felt that his aspirations might not align with God's plans.
• 🌟 The speaker found that being a priest exceeded all his expectations and brought him great joy.
• ⛪️ The consecration of the Eucharist is considered a miraculous act where the priest allows God to work through him.
• 🙌 The acceptance of the priesthood is described as the greatest joy and fulfillment in the speaker's life.
• 🚀 Following God's will is portrayed as the path to happiness and fulfillment.

Q & A

What does the speaker believe young men aspire to?

The speaker believes that young men aspire to something great and are always looking for something beyond what they can truly achieve in life.

What does the speaker say about the world's offerings?

The speaker indicates that many things the world offers do not truly satisfy, leading people to search for a deeper meaning and purpose.

How does the speaker describe the concept of a personal God?

The speaker describes a personal God who created us and has a plan for our lives, providing each person with a particular calling.

What is the foundational vocation according to the speaker?

The foundational vocation, according to the speaker, is the vocation to married life.

What did the speaker want to be when he was growing up?

The speaker initially wanted to be a professional baseball player and later aspired to be the next Billy Joel after attending a concert.

What was the turning point for the speaker in realizing God's plan for him?

The turning point for the speaker was when he first felt that maybe God had other plans for him that he did not envision.

How does the speaker describe the experience of being a priest?

The speaker describes the experience of being a priest as exceeding any expectation or goal he had for his own life, and it is a privilege that cannot be put into words.

What does the speaker consider the greatest thing happening in the world?

The speaker considers the consecration of the Eucharist by a priest as the greatest thing happening in the world, allowing God to work through the priest in miraculous ways.

How does the speaker view the priest's role during the Eucharist?

The speaker views the priest's role as one where Christ himself is present, offering his body and blood for his people, and the priest is called by God to literally represent Jesus.

What advice does the speaker give to young men considering their vocation?

The speaker advises young men not to be afraid if they feel called to be a priest, as God knows them better than anyone and would only call them to what would be most fruitful and fulfilling in their lives.

What does the speaker believe is the key to happiness?

The speaker believes that following God's will is the key to happiness, and when one's will meets with God's will, amazing things begin to happen.