In Search of the Spirit A monthly letter from the Glenmary Vocation Office

June 2002

A Message From St. Paul for Graduates—and for Everybody Else Too!

By Father Steve Pawelk

It’s June and graduation is on my mind. This year both a niece and a nephew graduated high school. So did several friends in former parishes as well as my local parish here in Stanton, Ky.

Along with my congratulations to each of them, I shared this advice of St. Paul:

This advice is really something we all need to hear whether we are graduating or not. For we are each confronted with the lifelong challenge of living in the world but not of it.

Jesus’ prayer to his Father in John’s Gospel provides some insight into our situation: “I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more that I belong to the world.… As you sent me into the world so I sent them into the world” (17:15,16,18)

To Jesus it is clear that we belong to the world of God even through we live in the world of humankind. But how can we be sure that we are transforming the world rather than the world transforming us? How do we seek the will of God and bring it to light here on earth?

Knowledge. We first need to examine our world in light of gospel values.

This type of knowledge comes from comparing the gospel reality with the world reality.

Discernment. Then, in light of what we know about God and about the world, we need to ask: What am I to do? “Discernment” is trying to do the will of God in and through specific action—or non-action—according to our conscience.

Sometimes the action is simple: praying, making a donation to a charity, joining a demonstration. Other times it is much more difficult and may require a person to change ideas, attitudes, even jobs or careers.

Careful prayer, speaking with older and more mature Christians, studying the Bible and Church teaching—all are necessary steps in discernment.

Decision. We cannot spend all our time trying to decide what is right lest the opportunity to do what is good and pleasing to God pass us by. We must make a decision.

Finding the balance between taking time for study and prayer and moving into action is difficult to achieve. This is where we must trust the Holy Spirit. This axiom has proved very helpful to me: Never let an opportunity to do good pass by. (If I am able todo good now for someone, then I should. Whatever the complications appear to be, they are usually of my own making, not God’s.)

As my graduating friends and family members venture into an unknown future this June, I pray they go with God’s grace.

Likewise, my faithful readers, I pray for you as you continue to search for the Spirit in your life. Keep St. Paul’s words before you. If you heed his advice, you may eventually hear these words of Jesus: “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:21).

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	For more information, contact For more information, contact: Father Steve Pawelk Vocation Director  spawelk@glenmary.org