You Called Me
In this past Sunday’s first reading we hear about Samuel’s call. Three times the LORD called out to Samuel, but he ran to Eli instead, thinking it was him calling. Three times the LORD called him, and each time Samuel responded with “Here I am. You called me.” We are told that “Samuel did not yet recognize the LORD, since the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him” (1 Sam. 3:7). How about us? Do we recognize the LORD? Do we hear the voice of the Lord or do we allow the voice of the world to lead us astray and away from His love and truth? Whose voice do I listen to?
When the Lord calls us, how do we respond? Even when the Lord had not revealed his word to Samuel, He called him. God does not call us because we have it all together or because we have all the answers or because we have the perfect skillset to pull of the “job” God might have for us. God calls us because He loves us. He calls us as we are with all our strengths and weaknesses. And He calls each one of us. God calls everyone. Do you believe that? God calls me. Just as I am, God calls me.
Samuel simply said “Here I am. You called me.” He didn’t say “Here Lord, I’m ready” or “Here I am Lord, I did all the prep work and I’m ready to go.” In fact, Samuel did not even recognize the Lord and he said “Here I am. You called me.” It’s not about our preparedness, readiness, or even worthiness. It is simply about saying, “Here I am,” being open to what the Lord has in store for us. If the Lord has called us —and He has — He will give to us all that we need, not all at the same time, but along the way. He will give us what we need at each and every moment. With each passing moment, as the Lord “reveals His word” to us, He will give us the graces that will allow us to not only receive those words but also to be transformed by them, bearing fruit that lasts. We must be open. Can you hear Him? God calls me and reveals His word to me. To me?
Will you allow the Lord to lead you and accompany you on this most amazing adventure, up the mountains and through the valleys, across the oceans and along the rivers, into the jungles and across the plains, all to a destination that is out of this world? The Lord seeks us to lead us not to a destination that leaves us unsatisfied but to a destination that is more than enough and that is forever — eternal life.
The Lord calls your name today. Can you hear Him?
