This story about the call of Samuel is taken from the First Book of Samuel. It’s good to reflect on this…You can read the scripture text below. Read it slowly. Notice how the young man, Samuel, is confused when he hears the Lord calling…He doesn’t know who it is. That’s the experience of a lot of people who are drawn to religious life. It’s important to remember that it is the Lord who calls. It makes sense to pray to the Lord for guidance and help as you try to discern more clearly how the Lord wants you to serve. Finally, take a look at the words of Samuel…”Here I am” and “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening”. These are good prayers to make your own…

From the Book of Samuel (1 Sam 3:2-10)

“One day Eli was asleep in his usual place. His eyes had lately grown so weak that he could not see. The lamp of God was not yet extinguished, and Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was.

The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.”

He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” “I did not call you,” Eli said. “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep.

Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am,” he said. “You called me.” But he answered, “I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep.”

At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.

The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am. You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth.

So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'” When Samuel went to sleep in his place the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”