Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Story of a priest and taxi driver:

What do I want to be?

That was the question I was asking myself since I was a teenager up 26 years old, when I decided to become a priest.

The Turning point: You may know my vocation story from the bulletins, but I haven’t shared the turning points that led me to consider priesthood. While I was in Korea, my brother gave me a copy of The Confessions of St. Augustine. I have read this book many times and learned a great deal from Augustine’s confessions about his life. My most important takeaway was his conversion experience.

As a young boy, I was also planning for my future, like getting married, having as many kids as possible, and having a comfortable life. Like Augustine, I was seeking pleasure, achievement, and fulfillment apart from God. I could find fulfillment in the things of the world, and that is why I was hearing the voice of the world and being deaf to the voice of God.

However, after reading Augustine’s confessions, my ears were opened and I realized that if I continued to love the things of the world more than God, I might lose my soul. I discovered that the fulfillment that I longed for was not far away but very close to my heart. Augustine helped me understand that only God could satisfy my deepest longings and desires. Augustine said: “God, you made us for yourself; our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

And I remembered what Pope Benedict XVI said: “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” ― Pope Benedict XVI.

After these experiences, I told myself that I have to change my way of life. God opened my ears to listen to him through St. Augustine and follow Christ.

Story of Philip Neri: confirm myself

Reflection on the story:

Like the young man, we may make our future plans without knowing that, in the end, only God is our fulfillment and true happiness.

Reflecting on my call and today’s readings, I realize that if we only listen to the voice of the crowds and the world while being deaf to what God is speaking within us, we will continually seek worldly things rather than God. In doing so, we may fail to fulfill His will and to share His message with others. However, if we open ourselves to God and allow Him to touch us, saying “Ephphatha!”—“Be opened!”—we will hear His voice clearly, speak about Him openly, and follow Him faithfully.

Events related to Mary: the queen of vocations

Lastly, I cannot talk about my vocation without reference to Mother Mary who is the queen of vocations. I firmly believe that she is always watching on me in this journey.

1. Arrived at the US at the birth of Mary, in this Sunday, August 8th.

2. My first college was Maria College in Albany,

3. first home parish was Mater Christi in Albany

4. first assignment as a seminarian was Historical St. Mary’s in Albany.

5. Major seminary was St. Mary’s in Baltimore

6. first and second ordinations took place at the Immaculate Heart Cathedral of Mary in Albany.

7. Now, my first assignment as a priest is here at OLA.

8. Mother Mary truly watches over us at every step of our lives.

If you are wondering what do you want to be ask Mother Mary

And be opened “Ephphatha! To the voice of God because God may call you to marriage, or single life for the sake of God’s kingdom, or, religious, or priesthood. Young people, if the Lord is calling you, be not afraid, the Lord is with you. You may not be qualify for the call, but the Lord will qualify you. He may not call the best among us, but he wants us to be best of who we are.

God calls us to different vocation, but Our highest calling is to be with God because only in him we find fulfillment, only in him, we can satisfy our deepest longing and happiness.

“God, you made us for yourself; our hearts are restless until they rest in you.

May God bless us all.