Reflect today on the call of the disciples to Jesus

As he passed, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs house. Jesus said to him: "Follow me." And he got up and followed Jesus. Mark 2:14

How do you know God's will for your life? In his spiritual classic, The Spiritual Exercises, St Ignatius of Loyola presented three ways in which we come to know God's will. The first way is the clearest and most definitive way. It is a time when the person experiences a "clarity beyond doubt" as a result of a special grace from God. In describing this experience, St. Ignatius mentions the passage quoted above as an illustration of this experience.

Little is said about this call of Levi in ​​the Gospel of Mark, which is also recorded in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 9: 9). Levi, also known as Matteo, was in charge of collecting taxes at his customs. It seems that Jesus said only these two simple words to Levi: "Follow me". As a result of these two words, Levi abandons his former life and becomes a follower of Jesus. Why would Levi do such a thing? What convinced him to follow Jesus? Clearly there was more than just a two-word invitation from Jesus that got him to respond.

What convinced Levi was a special grace of God that produced in his soul a "clarity beyond all doubt". Somehow Levi knew that God was calling him to abandon his previous life and embrace this new life. There was no long discussion, no evaluation of the pros and cons, no prolonged reflection about it. Levi knew this and answered.

Although this form of clarity in life is rare, it is important to be aware that sometimes God acts this way. Sometimes God speaks with such clarity that our conviction is certain and we know we must act. This is a great gift when it happens! And while this depth of instant clarity isn't always the way God speaks to us, it's important to recognize that God speaks to us this way at times.

Reflect today on this call from Levi. Reflect on this inner certainty that was given to him at that moment. Try to imagine what he experienced and what others thought of his choice to follow Jesus. Be open to this same grace; and if you ever feel like God is speaking to you with such clarity, be ready and willing to answer without hesitation.

My dear Lord, thank you for calling all of us to follow you without hesitation. Thank you for the joy of being Your disciple. Give me the grace to always know your will for my life and help me to answer you with total abandonment and trust. Jesus I believe in you.