To be called by Jesus…….Imagine. The Apostles had Jesus in the flesh; a man in their midst; talking with them. Then He said, “Come, Follow Me.” That was all. No questions asked. They gave up everything for a new life. The future was a big dark space in front of them. No direction. They listened to His voice about the journey He has ahead , with the Apostles by his side. They watch the miracles he performs, the loaves and the fishes, the blind having the gift of sight, the lame dropping their crutches and walking, the dead rising and the deaf hearing; so much to take in and learn from the Master.

“Come, Follow Me.” Have we heard Jesus calling to us? It may not be as clear as a command. If we push all the clutter aside in our mind, we may hear something. Maybe the feeling that you would like to be of service in a soup kitchen; teaching your faith to either children or adults; visiting the sick and homebound; serving during Mass as a Lector or Minister of the Eucharist; knitting prayer shawls for those in pain or just greeting at the doorway of the Church on Sunday morning…. These are ways of Jesus calling to us.

He is not asking you to move away, drop whatever you are doing or go far to never return. No. In our own little world, in Salem, NH, His call is to be like Him; be welcoming, loving, and caring; but, that little extra to reach out to others in our community or to our neighbor next door, by dropping by to say hi, or asking if they need anything at the store. This is the call, as a Disciple, in 2017. Think and reflect.

-Marie Mullen