In this season of Lent, we immerse ourselves in the person of Jesus — Son of the Father who loved us so much he gave his life for us. For Jesus is a person who calls to us to draw near, to trust and not to fear. The richness of the Catholic faith opens up a plethora of ways to walk with him and go deeper into real, true relationship.
Do you know he calls you to a vocation? Do you know you are unique in your design and that no one is like you? No one.
Your face uniquely reflects God out to the world. You bring God into every single interaction you have with another human being. He asks us to love and serve wherever we are, in the present moment.
In the Scriptures, Jesus changes the lives of every person he encounters. It becomes stunningly obvious if we are looking for it at every Mass. He changes each, by his words, and certainly by his healing miracles. We should be awed with each Scripture story, every time.
Are we as attuned to our interactions with him? Our interactions with others? Powerful stuff.
We must discern and listen through prayer for our own calls.
Meet Dot Nagle and Bill Brewer, who together have run a Bible study group for nearly 20 years in Marmora. Both are parishioners at Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish, yet those who have attended these Bible studies, in their respective homes, come from a larger area.
Followers of Jesus are intentional disciples — meaning they have made the choice to follow his teachings and proclaim the Gospel with their lives. Nagle and Brewer are disciples and it is apparent in the way they live, love and serve.
Missionary disciples go further forming other disciples equipping them to do as Jesus asks: “go, and make disciples of all nations.” This is our work, our vocation, and it takes place at home, at work, with friends and with strangers. Nagle and Brewer have spent many years forming others for God. As different as we all are, they have hosted a collection of God’s children — from across the spectrum including Protestants and Jews, seekers and believers. This is God’s ask and they have answered repeatedly. They have hosted many over the years. Some stay for years, others come for a while and depart.
The laity is called to bring God to the people. There are as many ways to do this as there are individuals. The story of how this lay-ministered Bible study began is perfectly framed by Nagle’s simple statement: “allow the Spirit to have his way.”
Brewer said he loves this Bible study, and knows he is working in service to the kingdom. He said he is well suited and knows God is taking full advantage of his gifts. Throughout the years, he has reviewed and prepared content for those in the Bible study to provide them the greatest engagement with Scripture, the word of God. He said he creates discussion outlines, guides and questions to facilitate a rich experience, and has used multiple resources.
Nagle, involved in the pro-life movement for many years and from the beginning, shared her story of truly feeling called by the Lord in eighth grade while in CCD and her teacher was a priest. “This priest touched my heart, brought me to the Lord. I have never looked back because Jesus equipped me to do things I was not equipped to do.” Like host a Bible study.
Both Nagle and Brewer were personally invited to start this Bible study by a man named Bill McDermott, who passed away a number of years ago. Each shared how gifted he was at identifying the talents of many, and wasted no time asking, encouraging and affirming their giftedness and propelling them forward. “He had vision for everyone in the parish,” Nagle said. “He was a great blessing in my life.”
If Jesus’ greatest ask of us is to love and serve, Brewer said this is his way to contribute to the spiritual lives of others. This is how he can best serve the kingdom — and with retirement somewhere on his horizon, he will seek other ways, too.
Nagle said her faith is deeply rooted in this journey with her companions. “I have been blessed by being open to doing this. The study of the Lord has given me courage to share.” She added that it has helped tremendously in her life and she wants others to receive the blessings, too.
When asked if he could pick a most memorable moment over the years, Brewer said he could not. What does strike him is that every night when the people gather, “something happens that helps me in my life.”
He also said, though they advertise in the church bulletin, people are in the group by personal invitation. “If you are invited by someone, you should go. You never know where it will lead you. Look at all I would have missed out on for the last 20 years if I had said no to Bill,” Brewer said.
Every single person has a vocation. Every. Single. Person.
What’s yours?
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