Tag: Samuel

2nd Sunday, OT, 2018

1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19
John 1:35-42

We often use the words vocation, or calling to indicate life-style, career, and hobbies. Like Samuel, we may be called to service of the Lord as priest or vowed religious. The word may refer also to our raison d’être, the meaning of our life, our identity; Peter was called to be The Rock. Finally, we may be referring to a unique and marked talent or insight; the prophets were called to convey specific messages.

Programs such as Called and Gifted by the Catherine of Siena Institute, and other spiritual gift inventories are designed to help people discover their God-given gifts and His call to use them. While we are right to reflect on these and the concerns of our hearts, we need to guard against turning the Lord into a high school guidance counselor.

Neither Samuel or Simon Peter are called to do anything specific as of these moments before us: no mission or ministry has yet been suggested. Before any other communique, the Lord makes His presence known. While He used words to grab Samuel’s attention, His physical appearance itself told Peter, “Here I am.” When the Lord calls us by name, He is announcing the presence of all present. “Here we all are— together.”

I am visual, so creating a scene in my mind’s eye when I contemplate is helpful to me. Regardless of the setting, Jesus is typically present and waiting for me. When I asked Him about these readings…about calls, vocations and invitations… I forgot to listen to His answer. I was just so happy to be hanging out with Him. I was in peace; it was not a feeling but a state of being. I realized later, that was His response.

We may worry, “Have I understood accurately what He is calling me to do, who He is calling me to be?” We make what is simple overly complicated. For each and every one of us, like Samuel and Peter, He calls us to notice His presence, to be with Him, and to allow ourselves to be at peace. The rest is secondary fluff.

 

Journal Questions:

  1. What efforts have I made to discern my calling?
  2. Am I living my call or still searching for clarification from the Lord?
  3. When do I experience peace? Is it a feeling or state of being?
  4. How might I describe my perceptions of time I spend with the Lord to someone else?

 

© 2018 Marilyn MacArthur, all rights reserved