This Sunday (the third Sunday in January, specifically) has been designated by the Episcopal Church as Religious Life Sunday. Shockers, Anglicans the world over also have monks, nuns, friars, and sisters who take a rule, engage in a community other than a traditional parish, and have a common calling or group of callings.
Truth be told, all of us in the household of faith have a call, a vocation. Some of us are more skillful in ferreting it out than others. Not all are called to a life in a cloister wearing a uniform designed in the 1430's or in some cases the 620's, but some are. These calls, whether to the religious life or to a secular life, all have one thing in common for the Christian, as is told in today's Gospel selection (click here), and that is an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and his invitation, "Come, follow me."
For some of us, we find our place in the secular, living out our relationship to God and sharing his love among friends, coworkers, family, passers-by, perhaps not by getting up on a soapbox in the park (hey, if that is your calling, go for it...) but by making enough of a difference in your treatment and love for others, even those despised by others, that they take note. Some may find a better fit living in a community with shared prayer time, shared accommodations, shared meals, shared work, shared income. Some may find it better to be in a community sharing prayer and having a ministry in common, such as preaching, teaching, nursing, social outreach, or even environmental stewardship (we were created to be gardeners after all).
A community centered around a vocation shared or similar to that of every member can strengthen the witness of the Kingdom of God and the Good News that Our Lord came to earth to teach us two thousand years ago, a Good News embedded in the Law and Prophets of the tradition of Israel, if any were to take the time and effort to understand. This is the Good News that God has not given up on us, wishes to be in relationship with us, and in turn heal the relationships around us.
Perhaps duking out the struggle to love God and neighbour in a secular or even parish context isn't supporting your calling enough. Perhaps you need the strength, encouragement, and prayers of those in a similar ministry or vocation. Perhaps you feel God calling you to a specific way of life within the Christian context that is further dedicated to Jesus' call to follow Him.
Talk it over with God if you do, you may enter into an adventure that fulfils you for the rest of your days.