By Robert Jalbert, M.M.

Jesus' vocation is also our vocation!

In the October issue of Maryknoll magazine each year we present the theme of vocation for your reflection. With the words, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor" (Luke 4:18), Jesus borrows the prophet Isaiah's description of his own vocation from God. Through Isaiah, Jesus further defines "bringing good news to the poor" as freeing captives and the oppressed, healing physical ailments and announcing that God has arrived to save all people—a message and promise of restoring freedom, wholeness and hope.

Having been created in God’s image and being baptized into the Body of Christ, we all share intimately in the Church’s missionary nature, identity and vocation. Jesus’ vocation is also our vocation! We too are invited to experience freedom, wholeness and hope and we are sent to share those gifts with others.

This issue offers some examples. Discover how Maryknoll Father José Arámburu, a native of Puerto Rico, has crossed several borders to live out his missionary vocation in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the United States.

Read how Lay Missioner Coralis Salvador, from the Philippines, since 2001 has responded to Kenyans affected by AIDS/HIV.

Experience Brother Harold Horne following his call to stay close to God by working with alcoholics and drug addicts through the A.A. movement in Taiwan, and meet Sister Julia Shideler as she literally walks with the people of East Timor.

Appreciate how Maryknoll Affiliate Ann Coady ministers to immigrants in her own neighborhood, helping them become better integrated into our U.S. culture.

We all live out our God-given vocations in increasingly more culturally diverse surroundings these days, and doing so in sensitive, responsible and holistic ways continues to be a stretching opportunity for us all. Borrowing Jesus' words as recorded by St. Luke, we also proclaim, "This passage of Scripture (bringing the good news to the poor) has come true today, as you have heard it being read" (Luke 4:21). In these pages, you are also seeing it being lived.