What do Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, David, Esther, Mary, Joseph, and Paul all have in common? They were called by God for specific ministries or purposes that He planned for their lives and they all listened and obediently accepted His calls. There were of course many others including Samuel and Jesus’ disciples who’s accounts of being called are in this week’s lectionary. Did you ever think that God has also called you? Not everyone is called into holy orders but God does call all of us. We are called by God to salvation and to live in holiness. Every Christian has a calling for his or her life. “God always calls. And the greatest joy for every believer is to respond to this call, offering one’s entire being to the service of God and our brothers and sisters.” (Pope Francis’ Angelus, January 17, 2021).
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, had trouble conceiving and she prayed for God to bless her with a son and promised to dedicate the child’s life to the Lord. God answered her prayers and she had Samuel. Hannah took him to the temple so that he could spend his life in service to the Lord. The young boy lived with Eli, a priest and a judge, and was trained by him. When Samuel heard God calling him, he was not yet familiar with the Lord’s voice and could not recognize it. But he responded offering himself because he was a faithful servant with an obedient heart. Samuel heard God’s voice with the help of Eli.
We read the story of another calling in today’s Gospel according to John. When John the Baptist sees Jesus walk by, he tells his own two disciples that were with him: “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:36). Familiar words the church uses in every mass, right before we celebrate Holy Communion. John introduced his two disciples to Jesus. The disciples heard what John said and immediately followed Jesus. Andrew, one of those two disciples that heard John and followed Jesus, called his brother, Simon. Simon followed Jesus as well.
We see in Eli leading Samuel to God and John the Baptist leading his disciples to Jesus that God calling can come through other people we know. And perhaps God is calling other people through our words and deeds.
Another way God calls us is from within us. Paul says in his letter we read today: “Whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:17, 19). We are one with the Spirit and He dwells in us. Therefore, God’s voice we sometimes hear comes from within.
Samuel heard God’s voice and thought it was Eli’s, a human voice. With Eli’s help, Samuel responded to God calling him. One trouble we have is discerning what we are hearing through other people’s words, through our thoughts, and through things we read. Is that God calling me? We have to be attentive and try to see God and hear His calling everywhere in our everyday life. We have to spend time listening for God’s voice by making time every day to read, listen and reflect on His words from the Bible and other spiritual resources. Doing so brings us closer to Him and allows us to recognize His voice.
Jesus called John’s disciples and they followed Him. God called Samuel four times before Samuel responded to Him. When God calls us, He waits for our response. Maybe you heard God calling you many years ago and you answered the call. Perhaps now is a good time to renew your vow to Him and rededicate your life. When the disciples came to Jesus, He asked them: “What are you looking for?” (John 1:38). As we begin a new year, bring your answer to God today.
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.
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