NBVM Novena Day 6: Mary, Handmaid of the Lord

When we hear the word “vocation,” most of us think of priests or nuns. People who seem to live on a completely different path from ours. People who somehow knew, maybe from a young age, that they were meant to serve God in a radical way.

But what about the rest of us? What if vocation isn’t just about religious life? What if it’s not only for the few who stand at the altar, but for all of us, right here, right now?

This was the heart of our reflection on Day 6 of the Novena, shared by Fr Christopher. And it left us with more than answers. It gave us a few important questions to sit with.

Mary shows us that discernment rarely begins with dramatic signs. More often, it begins in silence. She pondered God’s word in her heart. She didn’t rush to speak. She listened. Just like the prophet Elijah, who didn’t find God in the wind, or fire, or earthquake, but in a whisper. The same is true for us. God doesn’t shout over the noise. He speaks quietly. And if our lives are packed with distractions and constant movement, we might miss Him altogether. So here’s the honest question: have I made any space to listen lately?

In the middle of his sharing, Fr Christopher also asked a simple but important question: Are we reading the Bible at all?

It wasn’t said with judgement, but with the tone of someone gently reminding us of something essential. How can we expect to hear God if we never open His Word? The Bible isn’t just a holy book. It is God’s living voice to us.

We also heard a beautiful story about a man who spent most of his young life preparing to be a Capuchin friar. He studied theology, prayed regularly, and believed that was the road God wanted him to walk. Then, during his final year of university, he fell in love. He told the girl that he was going to pursue priesthood, and if it was God’s will, maybe their paths would cross again. Years later, they did. And he realised something. God wasn’t calling him to be a friar. He was calling him to marriage. That moment changed his life. He became a husband, a father, and remained deeply active in the life of the Church. The years of formation weren’t wasted. God used all of it, just differently. It was a powerful reminder. Sometimes the path we imagined for ourselves isn’t where God is leading us after all. That doesn’t make it a failure. It might actually be grace.

We often think of vocation as something personal. A role. A dream. A mission to fulfil. But at its core, vocation is about service. Mary’s “yes” wasn’t for herself. It was for the world. Every calling, whether it’s marriage, single life, religious life, or something in between, is meant to give life to others. You don’t have to be a priest to have a calling. You don’t need a title or a collar to serve. The real question isn’t “What’s my vocation?” It’s “Who is God asking me to serve today?”

Fr Christopher also shared his own story too. He started out as an engineer. Good salary, a company car, and plenty of comfort. But over time, he felt a pull. He began attending daily Mass. He got involved with RCIA and prayer groups. People started asking if he had ever considered becoming a priest. It didn’t happen overnight. It took years of prayer, searching, and openness. But the journey eventually led him to priesthood. Still, the message was clear. Holiness is not reserved for religious people, but we are all called to holiness. Called to be a saint. Called to live for God in our ordinary lives. And that begins where we are.

Maybe you’re in a season of waiting. Maybe you’ve made big choices and still wonder if they were the right ones. Maybe you’re not sure what your calling is supposed to look like. You don’t need all the answers right now. But you do need space to listen. Time to pray. The courage to say, “Yes, Lord, I’m here.”

God’s voice often comes slowly. Not in flashes of certainty, but in quiet nudges. And when you feel it, in Scripture, in silence, in the Eucharist, may you have the faith to say what Mary once said:

“Here I am, the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” (BV)