Vocation  The  A Divine Religious Work Sense God

vo·ca·tion
\\vō-ˈkā-shən\\ noun1.
  a. a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action; especially : a divine call to the religious life
  b. an entry into the priesthood or a religious order
2.
  a. the work in which a person is regularly employed : 

occupation

  b. the persons engaged in a particular occupation
3. the special function of an individual or group

vo·ca·tion
\vōˈkāshən\ noun
(-s)
Etymology: Middle English vocacioun, from Late Latin vocation-, vocatio, from Latin, summons, bidding, invitation, from vocatus (past participle of vocare to call) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at 
1. 
 a. : a summons from God to an individual or group to undertake the obligations and perform the duties of a particular task or function in life : a divine call to a place of service to others in accordance with the divine plan
  < does not the sense of divine vocation … need to be reintroduced as motivation into the profession of teaching — Gordon Poteat >
 specifically : a divine call to a religious career (as the priesthood or monastic life) as shown by one's fitness, natural inclinations, and often a conviction of divine summons
  < resolve not to leave the seminary until someone in authority … tells him he has no vocation — J.H.Wilson >
 b. : the divine act by which an individual is invited or brought to accept salvation through the gospel — compare 
  < I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus — Phil 3:14 (Douay Version) >
 c. : an official invitation to a particular ecclesiastical office; especially :  2d(1)
2. 
 a. 
  (1) : a task or function to which one is called by God
   < the asceticism of the Middle Ages … regarded the religious calling as the only true vocation — E.G.Homrighausen >
   < getting married is an answer to an invitation from God; and … marriage is a vocation — M.J.Huber >
  (2) : the responsibility of an individual or group to serve the divine purposes in every condition, work, or relationship of life : one's obligations and responsibilities (as to others) under God
   < vocation involves the total orientation of a man's life and work in terms of his ultimate sense of mission — R.F.West >
   < domination of physical nature is part of the vocation of man — New Scholasticism >
 b. : the work in which a person is regularly employed usually for pay : line of work : 
  < vocation: carpenter >
  < soon made art his vocation, although he had intended to follow it only as a sideline — Americas >
  < those who are philosophers by vocation will … leave it to the amateur philosophizing of scientists and men of letters — R.B.Perry >
  — opposed to avocation
 c. : the special function of an individual or group within a larger order (as society) : 
  < being a husband and father is only one of many vocations of a married man — Margaret Deland >
  : 
  < it is not the vocation of the philosopher … to devise and furnish formulae that will define what are in all cases reasonable decisions — F.L.Will >
3. archaic : the position in life in which God has placed a person : , 
 < walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and … long suffering — Eph 4:1 (Authorized Version) >
4. : the membership of a particular occupational group : the persons engaged in a field of business, profession, or trade
 < the vocation of politics contains probably more than its share of brave and conscientious men — John Lodge >
5. : a strong inclination toward a particular type of work or course of action
 < moved by a deep messianic vocation — John Bright b. 1908 >
 < though an earnest devotee, she felt no vocation for the cloister — Francis Parkman >
 < one who is not a dissenter by vocation — M.W.Straight >
 < a personage whom I might describe minutely, but I feel no vocation for the task — Charlotte Brontë >
6. : an entry into preparation for the priesthood or a religious order
 < all religious communities, he said, are praying and hoping for vocations … to staff educational, charitable and other institutions — H.C.Bezou >