Fr. Eric Nicolai preached this meditation to a group of young men at Ernescliff College in Toronto, on December 9, 2023. The Gospel of Mark 10, 17-31 tells the account of the young man who presented himself to Jesus and asked what he must do to obtain eternal life. A challenging exchange ensued. To dig into this, we must have a deep understanding of what a vocation is. Here's one definition: "The vocation is the providential thought of the Creator for each creature, it is his idea-plan, like a dream found in God's heart, because the creature is found in his heart. God the Father wants this to be different and specific for each living person."

Music: Komm, süsser Tod, BWV 478, Guitar arrangement by Bert Alink.

Thumbnail: Cyprien Tanguay (1819-1902) portrait by Antoine Plamondon, painted c. 1832, Quebec, Canada.