What does it mean to be called by God? From time to time, you and I may hear that someone is discerning a call to become a priest or a deacon, or to enter religious life.  Sometimes, we may hear about someone who is called into mission work or into another worthwhile Christian ministry.  Or, it may seem that we, ourselves, are wondering if we are receiving a call from God.

Some things we might consider when we are discerning a call from God, are:  Is this call an audible voice?  Is this call just within our own head? Is this call a strong desire deep within our soul that comes without any external prompting? Are circumstances pointing to something we have never thought about before, or do they confirm a series of previous thoughts and feelings?

In today’s Gospel reading, we find John the Baptist obeying his call, by pointing others to Jesus. When Jesus walks by, near the Jordan River, John the Baptist says to two of his disciples, “Behold! The Lamb of God!”   Then, this dramatic dialogue occurs.  Jesus turns and looks at them, saying, “What are you looking for?”  They answer:  Rabbi, (or Teacher), signifying their readiness to learn, “where are You staying?”  He says to them, “Come, and you will see.”  This scene is so extraordinary and the personality of Jesus so compelling, that Andrew and John immediately follow Jesus!