Once upon a time, a stonecutter was so unhappy with his life. He didn’t think his job or his life was any good. One day, he came upon a merchant and thought, “That’s what I should do – sell things.” And amazingly, wham, his wish was granted and he was a merchant.
So he had a little shop and one day saw a parade pass by. He saw a prince dressed in splendor, such as he had never seen before and said, “I wish I were a prince.” And wham we became a prince.
Not too many days later, he stepped outside and felt the discomfort of the hot summer sun beating down upon his head. “Even a prince cannot stay cool in the sun,” he said. “I wish I were the sun.” Wham. That wish too came true.
He was happy being the sun until one day, a cloud came between him and the earth. “That cloud over-shadows me,” He said. “I wish I were a cloud.” And wham, again he changed.
He was happy until he came to a mountain which he could not rise above “This mountain is greater than I,” he said. “I wish I were a mountain.” And sure enough, wham, a mountain he became and he finally felt happy as he looked down upon the affairs of people. Until one day, a stone-cutter climbed up his side and chipped away at rock and there was nothing he could do about it. “This little man is more powerful than I,” the mountain said. “I wish I were a stonecutter.”
And so the circle was complete . . he found his true happiness just being himself.
I think that many of us wonder if we are in the “right job.” Or some young people ask themselves “what should I do with my life?” In a sense, every one of us has a vocation. And it is said that you will find your true vocation when your deepest desire fits with the world’s needs.
Now I think that all of you young people could consider working in the Church, for this is best job in the world . . . all aspects of working for the church, and especially being a priest or in a religious order. I love what I do and it is an honor to work here at Christ Our Light.
But what does God want of you? In the first reading God wanted Jonah to go in one direction and Jonah says “No way,” and goes in a different direction. He eventually gets thrown overboard and shallowed by a big fish (whale) and Jonah changes his mind and does what God wants for him and that is where the first reading takes place.
What does God want for you? Should you leave everything and go work in the Missions?
Should you devote yourself to working with poor people and hunger issues? Those are noble pursuits and I want to fully encourage all of you to consider them as a career or as a change in careers.
But look at what happens in the gospel. Jesus calls four of the disciples who are fishermen. He calls them and says, “From now on I want you to be fishers of people.” I would imagine that if Jesus called bakers, he would say, “From now on I want you to be bakers of people.” Or if they ditch digger, then ditch diggers of people.
Do you get it? It’s not that you need to change jobs or find the perfect career to be happy . . . but, do your current job well. Be who you are, right now, as best you can . . . like St. Paul talked about in the second reading.
“Be who you are, and be that well.” Says St. Francis de Salles (that’s a different guy then St. Francis of Assisi). If you are currently a student . . . then be a student well. If you are a homemaker . . . then be that well. Or retired, or working at the hospital. It’s almost as if it DOESN’T MATTER what you are doing . . . simply do it well.
For if you do it well . . . [Those with yellow candles to light them now and hold them up] . . . than you will have a certain glow about you that is contagious. You know, a glow that offers hope in the world of discord or turmoil. You don’t have to be wonderful, or perfect, or have all the answers . . . just be yourself. And it inspires others . . .
[Those with blue candles light them now and hold them up] As Jesus wanted those early disciples to be fishers of people (because fishing is what they knew) so you be what you know. And be that well. . . . make the best of it. Stop complaining about the people you work with or work for. We get it, there are crummy people out there, but don’t stoop to their level. You be the best you. If there is something unethical going on, well don’t do it (even if everyone else in the company is doing it). If all your classmates are cheating, be better. If your fellow employees are stealing food items (or making mistakes so they can eat them) be better than that.
[Those with white candles light them and hold them up].
You see, if the world is going to get better or if the world is going to become closer to God, it’s your privilege to create it. NOT SOMEONE ELSE. Be who God meant you to be . . . and I will guarantee that it will be contagious and people change.
St. Catherine of Sienna, “Be who God meant to be and you will start the world on fire.”