Word to the Wise
Sunday, January 17, 2021 - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[1 Sam 3:3b-10, 19; 1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20; John 1:35-42]When Samuel sent to seep in his place, the Lord came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening." [1 Samuel] Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi.....where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day. [John]
The stories of Samuel waking up Eli and the disciples (Andrew and ?) timidly "following" Jesus are about "discernment." That word is popular in decision-making nowadays. In Catholic campus ministry settings, a student who is "discerning" often means he or she is considering a vocation to full time ministry. But the word might also describe someone considering a vocation to health care, law, teaching, etc. Another meaning is found in the process of identifying individuals with the potential to fill a particular role in an organization. The stories of the call of Samuel and the disciples in today's scripture might include a lot of the meanings of discernment. They definitely lend themselves to the question of "vocation" on many levels. The fundamental vocation in these stories, however, is the response in faith to a relationship with God - a response that is more than accepting a job. It is a response to recognize one's own identity before God and acting accordingly.
At one time, I served our Southern Dominican Province in the position of "novice master." This role meant guiding the novices in a year-long process of "discerning" whether or not life as a Dominican friar is the true expression of their baptismal commitment. I would tell them that the primary question that the novitiate experience poses is: Does becoming a Dominican friar tell the truth about you?
Since discernment involves human beings, it is generally a messy process that does not result in scientific certitude. We Dominicans (and other religious orders) host "Come and See!" experiences for "discerning" young men and women. The question often arises, "How do I know if this is the right path for me?" The answer is, "Come and See!" In my own case (Oh so many years ago!) it was an urge that would not go away. To this day I could not explain it other than God's Spirit nudging. I knew that the nudge would not go away until I tried what I was being nudged toward!
As Samuel and Andrew would discover, discernment does not stop with the initial decision, but continues throughout a lifetime of being faithful to the truth of one's fundamental call in baptism and then an everyday commitment to living out that truth. Samuel and Andrew had to discern and decide. So do we all! AMEN