Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
(I Samuel 3:1-10.19-20; Mark 1:1-29-39)
Feeling called, like Samuel in today’s first reading, is an
almost universal experience. Most youth have
a sense that they are called to do something or be something greater than they presently
are or are doing. Although they may not
consider their calling with this term, they experience a vocation. “Vocation”
is derived from the Latin vocatio meaning a “calling.” It may originate
from an inner sense of destiny or something outside that attracts their
attention like a poster to join the army.
In either case, they are moved to do something so that they might realize
what they feel called to be.
Samuel senses his vocation to serve the Lord which
apparently comes in a dream. His words respond
to the voice he hears while sleeping. He says, “Here I am.” Church members should also sense a call to
serve the Lord. Most will not discern a
calling to be a priest or religious sister.
But they may sense a call to a lay ministry like bringing Communion to
the homebound. Or they may discern a
call to live as saints in the world; that is, raising a family, working at a
job, serving the greater community with the love and diligence of Jesus’
disciples.
We sometimes resist our calling. The fun or left side of our brain may signal
that a Church ministry or even identifying too closely with our faith would be
restrictive. This type of thinking surrenders
to unfounded fear. We experience deep
freedom when we serve the Lord. He accompanies
us, strengthens us, and fulfills us so that we feel his love.
