A Call for All, A Place for Each

Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua CSSp

As God’s children, we are not all called to the same work; each is called according to his or her own state. Yet one truth remains constant: the call to holiness is for all of us, without exception.

“In those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews, their widows were being negelected in the daily distribution……” And the Twelve said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables… pick out from among you men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom…”

In this moment, the early Church teaches us something essential. While the Apostles remained faithful to their specific calling, they also affirmed the dignity of every other form of service. Even the task of serving tables required people filled with the Spirit and wisdom. This reminds us that, in God’s house, nothing is trivial. Every responsibility, seen or unseen, carries weight before God.

At times, we too can fall into the quiet temptation of measuring importance by visibility-placing some roles above others, even without saying it aloud. Yet the Gospel gently corrects us. What matters before God is not how visible a task is, but how faithfully it is carried out.

Wherever we find ourselves- in ministry, in family life, in professional work, or in the hidden corners of daily responsibility- we share the same call: to live in holiness. Without it, our efforts lose their depth; with it, even the simplest act becomes a witness to grace.

Through baptism, we all share in Christ’s priesthood. We are all priests, prophets, and kings. Together, we are called to prayer, to proclaim God’s word, and to care for the spaces entrusted to us. As Scripture reminds us: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…”

There is also a quiet reassurance in the words of Jesus: “In my Father’s house are many rooms…” There is space for each of us. Space to grow, to serve, to become. When this truth settles in our hearts, comparison begins to fade, and a deeper peace can take root among us. Each calling finds its place within the larger harmony of God’s plan.

And so, rather than looking elsewhere, we return to where we stand- to the grace already given, to the call already received. It is there that holiness takes shape.

May we, in our different paths and responsibilities, grow together into the one calling that unites us all- the call to holiness. Amen.