We have a term for people who have been Catholic since birth: Cradle Catholic.  This is both good and bad.  Being Catholic because that is what your parents were and they decided to have you baptized and present you for first Eucharist and Confirmation doesn’t mean much if you have never questioned your beliefs.

What do you believe?

The first reading from 1 Samuel is the story of how Samuel heard a voice calling to him and repeatedly mistook the voice for that of his master, Eli.  Samuel had never heard God before and did not know who God was and so was understandably confused by the voice, until he answered God, “Speak to me Lord, I am listening!”

In the Gospel of John we witness John the Baptist in Bethany with two of his disciples.  John sees Jesus walking by and says, “Look!  There is the Lamb of God!”  His two disciples follow Jesus and when asked by Jesus what they want reply, “Rabbi, where do you live?” to which Jesus replies, “Come and see!”  One of the disciples of John whose name was Andrew went to his brother, Simon to tell him, “We have found the Messiah!”

At some point in everyone’s life we must answer the question of our faith:  Who is Jesus?  It is not enough to be born into the faith, we must make a decision of our mind which begins in our heart.  We have to meet Jesus and we have to say, “I have found the Messiah!”  This transformation of our minds can take a lifetime, but it must happen to all of us.  Jesus wants to have the same impact on our lives as he did on the disciples of John.  He wants to change the way that we think and the way we act.

Samuel was not familiar with the Lord.  How has the Lord revealed himself to you?  

Samuel said to the Lord, “Speak to me Lord, I am listening!” How expectant are you that the Lord will reveal himself to you or speak to you when you pray?  Or when you receive the Eucharist, or read Scripture? How have you responded?

We all need to choose in our hearts for Jesus.  We all need to proclaim, “I have found the Messiah!”

The Psalm this week proclaims, “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will.”  Are we willing and ready to serve our God?  How can doing God’s will make our lives better?

Have a blessed week, love and serve the Lord with your heart and mind and body!

Psalm link:  Here am I, Lord  mp3 sampler at the top, words at the bottom!