God called to Samuel when he was sleeping. Each time, Samuel replied, "Here I am." He thought Eli, the high priest was calling him. At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord so he did not recognize who was calling him but he was very prompt to respond. Finally, Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth and told him, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." Samuel did this and the Lord came to him and Samuel grew up and the Lord was with him..."
That is the first vocation we have today in the first reading. The Gospel tells of the first two disciples who follow Jesus after John the Baptist has pointed him out as the Lamb of God. These two heard John and began to follow Jesus. Jesus turns to them and says, "What are you looking for?" They answer, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Jesus says "Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day.
From that first following of Jesus will come a call to leave all and follow him. I often wonder about that first conversation with Jesus. Did he reveal something of his own life? I am sure he asked them to talk about themselves, their families, their life as fishermen, and their dreams and hopes. He is still asking us the same and often saying to us, "Come and see! Are we able to leave behind our many pursuits and follow Jesus and stay with him?
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