Fr Andrew Ebrahim SDB reflects on his own vocation story:

'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me' (John 10: 27)

I was about 7 years old when I felt called to be a priest. I was certain that this is what I wanted to be. It felt normal, it felt good, I was perfectly happy with this feeling. Not everyone felt as I did.

As the years passed voices encouraged me to rethink what I was doing. I was giving up on life. I needed to keep my options open. I was too young to know what God was asking of me. I could do much better work for God "in the world".

I listened to the voices that encouraged me to ditch the idea of becoming a priest; I listened to the voices that made fun of me every time I did something wrong, "you can't do that, you're going to become a priest". I needed to be perfect. I wasn't.

I gave up on the idea of priesthood. It wasn't what I wanted, I told myself.

The calling went away.

Like hell it did!

It would go quiet for long periods at a time and then, when I was least expecting it, I would be called again. The voice would be a feeling, a "coincidence", advice from an unexpected person all pointing me in the way of religious life.

However, the other voices were louder, more attractive, made more sense-but the voice of the Shepherd resonated deep within me.

Where ever you find yourself, listen out for His voice and let Him guide you.

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