This Sunday’s two readings describe divine callings to God’s work. The little Samuel heard God’s voice but didn’t recognize it until Eli discerned and told him how to respond. The two disciples of John the Baptist saw Jesus walking by but didn’t recognize him until the Baptist shouted to them who Jesus was. One of them, Andrew now went to his brother Simon and told him whom he had found. And Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus.

In both episodes, the future prophet and the apostles receive help from others to follow God’s callings. Can you think of examples in the Bible where people immediately recognize and understand God’s callings without any helps from angels, visions, dreams, or other people? Even the Immaculate Virgin had to be assisted by the archangel Gabriel. The archangel helped her understand what was happening to her.

Most countries in the world, particularly traditionally Christian countries have been suffering a dwindling number of priestly and religious vocations. One reason for this unfortunate current is that not many of us encourage, discern, or assist our young people. At least, we should remove discouragements and harmful environments so that God’s voice, the calling of Jesus may reach their ears, eyes, minds and hearts. But are we sure we have done our best? Somehow, so many of our children and grandchildren don’t even go to church.

One distinct gift of priestly and religious vocations in the Catholic Church is permanent celibacy. Priests and the religious do not struggle daily with obedience and poverty unless they are under unreasonable superiors while living under a poverty line. These two conditions don’t usually occur together in most Western churches. But chastity in celibate life faces daily challenges and struggles. And this is no surprise. The Western societies, all used to be Christian lands, do not believe in chastity anymore. As soon as we let our children watch movies and TV, they are bombarded with encouragements for promiscuity and perversity. Good Catholic parents are disheartened when their children start living with their boyfriends and girlfriends. But it was we who bought TVs, computers, tablets, and phones for them.

You might have felt surprised at the selection of the second reading this Sunday. St Paul does not negotiate on sexual immoralities. He cannot be more clear on the sinfulness of fornication, which is “carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman.” (CCC n.2353) In our times, most people, including many Catholics, consider this sinful act as normal and natural. Then, how can we expect our children and grandchildren to choose a life of chastity and celibacy, which are now abnormal to most of us?

When we raise our children as temples of the Holy Spirit, they may hear God’s voice and see His signs. But to help them, we should help ourselves first. We all wish to go back to normalcy before this pandemic of coronavirus. But we also need to go back to the normalcy before this pandemic of sexual immoralities.