St. Mary's Parish - Prince George

ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC PARISH
STEWARDSHIP

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PART 4

At the beginning of John�s Gospel, we hear the call of the first disciples. Andrew and John hear the words of John the Baptist in reference to Jesus who is passing by: �Behold the Lamb of God�. On hearing these words, they respond by following Jesus. They stay with him that day, listening to his words, getting to know him a little. In turn they go and call others � Andrew tells his brother Peter about Jesus and brings him to Jesus. Philip brings his friend Nathanael, and slowly the band of disciples grows. There are two powerful lessons for us in this passage:

1. Jesus does not call faceless crowds. The call is personal and unique. Jesus calls individuals to follow him. Jesus knows us personally and individually, knows our weaknesses and foibles as well as our strengths and gifts. Our vocations are unique, but we are called as part of a community of faith to follow Jesus, to be his disciples. We are each challenged to reflect on our individual vocations, on our strengths and gifts and then to respond to the Lord�s call.

2. We do not hear the Lord�s call in isolation from one another. We help each other hear our own call to discipleship � we become the lord�s voice calling others. Vocations are communicated, discerned, accepted and lived out in the Christian community. As we hear, recognize and respond to our own call, we in turn are invited by the Lord to call others into relationship with him.

How did you hear your call to be a disciple? Who called you in a concrete way?
Have you ever invited anyone else to become a disciple of Jesus?