Today's first reading describes a key moment in the history of God's people, one that touches us to this very day. Saul has been rejected as king (yesterday's reading) and the prophet Samuel now goes to find a successor. He goes down to Bethlehem in search of Jesse who has seven sons. On catching sight of the eldest, Eliab, he immediately felt that this was the one the Lord has chosen. But no. Each of the six older sons was rejected in turn until the seventh, taking care of sheep in the desert, was called. "This is the one," the Lord tells Samuel. And then and there in the presence of his brothers, David is anointed king. He will turn out to be one of the outstanding leaders of the Old Testament and, at the same time, a man of great weaknesses. Most of all, however, he will be the ancestor of Jesus who, through Joseph, came from the House of David. And, just as David had been a shepherd, Jesus, too, becomes our Good Shepherd. We might reflect profitably today on how each one of us - with all our shortcomings - has been called to know and love and serve Jesus and to join him in his mission for the world.