King Agamemnon’s apology to Achilles (see “Homer I” article), and the latter’s rejection of it, take place in an assembly of the Greek warlords who face almost certain defeat—death or enslavement—if they battle without Achilles. The warlords are willing to risk their lives for their civilization, but in a tribal society like theirs, success depends on every member, great and small, fulfilling his or her part. Achilles is unwilling to die, and cites as justification the sure prophecy of his death in battle. The warlords continue debating as if he has not spoken. Why? Every warlord, not just Achilles, has a “fate” (however uncertain), which for many will in fact be death. The warlords, unlike Achilles, are in tune with their divine calling, a cause more urgent than life itself. They honor their call by engaging the Trojans, but Achilles does not. Achilles’ cannot escape fate, however, as his soul-friend Patroclus dies in battle. Devastated by grief and guilt, Achilles realizes that life has meaning only if lived in response to one’s divine calling. He embraces his call by joining battle and saving the Greeks. True to the prophesy, he wins imperishable fame—and gives up his life. This story from the Iliad (Bk. I, IX, XVIII) clarifies for us some realities that modern life tends to obscure: that each of us plays a crucial role in God’s plan for society; that each day demands of us a response requiring some degree of courage; and that each of us has an obligation to fulfill her divine calling.