In the 1980s, I was directing a pregnancy help organization and its related shelter for women who were pregnant or caring for young children. There was some important decision that needed to be made. What was best was unclear. I can recall standing in front of church after mass one morning and saying, “I just don’t know! If God would only call me up on the phone and tell me what He wants!”
It was a day I was working at home. I couldn’t get anything done because the phone kept ringing! When my husband came home and asked, “How was your day?” I said something to the effect of, “Terrible. All I did was answer the phone.”
When those words came out of my mouth, I suddenly realized that God had been calling me all day long through one person or another—in the process giving me the answer to the dilemma of my prayer through the various conversations.
Those were the days when I wasn’t familiar enough with prayer to get a more direct answer from God. I depended on circumstances, commandments, or obedience to an authority figure. From that experience, I began to develop skills for discernment.
Discerning calls from God is the theme of today’s readings.
I Samuel 3:3b-10,19 Immediately and Gradually
It is worth noting the first verse of I Samuel 3: “During the time young Samuel was minister to the Lord under Eli, a revelation of the Lord was uncommon and vision infrequent.”
It was a transition time in Israel. The people were settled in the land and there was a general peace. The people had been ruled by “judges,” people who were wise who applied the Law of Moses to problems people brought to them. It worked pretty well within the community, but there were threats from other cultures all around. God called Samuel to be a prophet and speak for God. He was still a boy when God called him, but from that time, “the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.”
God called Samuel and wanted an immediate “yes,” though the full revelation of his calling emerged over years. Before Samuel began to guide the Israelites in matters of war or religious practice, God set him up so “all of Israel from Dan to Beer-Sheba came to know that Samuel was an accredited prophet of the Lord.” (1 Sam 3:20)
John 1:35-42 Immediately
It is worth noting the context of the Gospel. This is “THE NEXT DAY” after Jesus was baptized. He is still at the Jordan River. Notice how John immediately turns the attention of his disciples to Jesus. As Jesus passes by, John says, “Behold, the Lamb of God.”
Notice how Andrew and the other unnamed disciple IMMEDIATELY turn from John toward Jesus. They immediately follow. Jesus immediately welcomes their query, “Come and see,” he says. Whatever conversation they had, by the end of the day, the two of them are already evangelizing family and friends. Andrew says to his brother Simon, “We have found the Messiah.” If Phillip was the other disciple, as Jesus called. him, he tells his friend Nathaniel, “We have found the one Moses spoke of in the Law.” The disciples here had an immediate call to at least seek out Jesus and follow him.
How Do We Recognize a Call from God?
Some 30 years after the day the phone kept ringing, I participated in a small group study program created by Sherry Weddell and the Catherine of Siena Institute. That particular study has been replaced by other formats that are described here.
A summary of what I remember of the discussion group course several of us took includes:
We are ALL called and gifted. The special gifts we have from God are called charisms. They are abilities specifically given to each and every baptized person to build up the Kingdom of God. Sherry’s organization has some excellent resources to identify what your possible charisms may be.
However, once you think you have a gift, it is important to test it out. If it truly is a charism from God (as opposed to a talent or skill):
- Your charism can only be used for good.
- Your charism can emerge early in your life (like Samuel) or later (like Peter and Andrew) or even when you are old (like Anna and Simeon a couple of weeks ago).
- If the charism is of God, you are attracted to it and find a joy in doing what God calls you to do (even if it is also hard). There is a sense of solid peace when you use your gift.
- Others notice this gift in you and name it to you from time to time.
- Your efforts bear more fruit than you would normally expect.
- Your charism evangelizes—it draws people to God.
You can take an inventory to discover your gifts. Or you can pray, ask your friends, and experiment to find out.
I Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20 Continually
This selection from I Corinthians specifically talks about sexual purity. But the image of each of us being a building—a temple—where God lives–extends beyond sexuality to all of life. I think about it when I struggle about food, exercise, and health. I need to take care of God’s property, His temple who is my body.
AND, in light of the other readings today, it is important to recognize that GOD LIVES IN EACH OF US FOR A PURPOSE related to building up the Kingdom of God. IT IS GOD IN YOU that is your charism, your gift that builds the Kingdom of God.
The Question: When God Calls You, how do you answer?
How do you say, “Here I am” with Samuel? How do you “Come and see” or “Follow” Jesus? How do you let the Light of God shine in the temple of the Holy Spirit which is you?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for seeking me out, calling me. Lead me now. Guide me. There are parts of my life where I am just beginning, like Samuel. Others, where I seek and am intrigued to follow. May the Holy Spirit ALWAYS be my guide, so I can say, “Yes, Lord, here I am. Speak, your servant is listening.”
