Two vocation stories and a funeral

Today a few of us attended the funeral of Ms Thumma Agathamma, the aunt of Mr Gopu Balareddy.  Although the aunt, he respected and loved her more than his own mother, because it was she who brought him up. 

Before and during the funeral Mass, listening to the virtues of the deceased and her adopted son, it struck me that both of them have been utterly selfless and generous towards the Church, especially priests and religious.  Their respect for the clergy and their charitable works has been truly commendable.  Certainly Mr Balareddy imbibed this virtue from his aunt.  

Nonetheless the thought that occurred to me was that if at all they continued in their religious life, which they both did try to discern and choose sometime early in life,  their impact on the Andhra Church and those lives they touch(ed) would not have been the same. I feel they have been of greater help to the Church as lay people than if the were to have  become priest or a nun!  

That is what I believe is the mystery of a vocation (any vocation, be that of a priest or a businessman, of a religious or a housewife).  It is a call to which one is invited to respond. Not a mere career one chooses by oneself.