Fr. Bjorn Lundberg explains why it is perfectly normal and prudent to feel unworthy of a calling to the religious life, since “God does not call the equipped; he equips the called.”
Transcript
Host: Go now to Nicholas in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, listening on 98.9 Immaculate Heart Radio. Nicholas, your question for Fr. Lundberg.
Caller: Hello Father, thank you for taking my call.
Fr. Bjorn: Sure.
Caller: So right now I’m currently discerning the priesthood, and will be applying to seminary here soon. But even this early in the process, I feel that if I was called to be a priest, that I would be incapable, and I feel unworthy of doing it. So would you have any advice on how to build trust in God that He’ll make up for what I lack if I am called to be a priest?
Fr. Bjorn: Right. I think, well, you’re a pretty smart person, smart guy, because you are aware much sooner than maybe other people realize: we’re totally incapable of being good priests on our own—in the sense that we’re not worthy of the calling, and the greater the work, the more unlikely the instrument. So if you don’t feel up to the task, don’t let that stop you. That will be with you probably for the rest of your life. Whether you got married and raised kids, or start a business or whatever, there’s always this insecurity; but when you realize the greatness of the priesthood and what God does, I mean, Francis of Assisi didn’t become a priest, precisely because he didn’t feel worthy.
But if God is calling you, that’s the question. You want to obey His call, and if He—you know, God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. He will bring you where you need to be, and it’s sometimes just like a treasure hunt. He gets you the next clue. You get through the application process, you get to the seminary, you take your classes, you do formation, and God will show you the next thing to do, and He’ll help you realize whether or not that’s the final invitation He’s asking you to make—or, accept.
Host: Thank you very much, Nicholas.