Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

As today’s first reading begins, “Samuel was sleeping in the temple.” Why? His mother prayed fervently for a child. When God gave her Samuel, she was so appreciative of the gift of a child that she gave Samuel back to the Lord to serve him. So, Samuel’s life centered at the temple.

As he was sleeping, three times the Lord called to Samuel. Samuel assumed the voice he heard was Eli’s. Eli was the priest and Samuel’s mentor. Samuel is eager to serve and “ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” The first two times Eli simply says that he did not call Samuel and for Samuel to go back to sleep.

When it happens a third time, Eli realizes it is the Lord calling Samuel. Samuel does not realize this on his own because he is still new to the ways of the Lord and “the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet.” While not everyone is called to serve in the same way as Samuel, this passage should help us realize the importance of regular prayer, prayer that includes listening to God. If we aren’t used to listening to the Lord, how do we expect to recognize his voice when we face dire circumstances.

We must take on the same attitude that Eli directs Samuel to. We need to say to God, “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” It is not enough to say we are listening. We must mean it and truly listen to what the Lord says to us. Then, whatever the Lord directs us to do, we should do it.

We must not get caught in our own wants and desires. John the Baptist attracted disciples as he called people to “prepare the way of the Lord.” John could have become prideful and keep his disciples for his own ego. He did not. John the Baptist was all about doing the Lord’s Will.

When Jesus walked by in today’s gospel, those who sought honor and disciples for themselves might have remained silent. John the Baptist did not. He pointed Jesus out to his two disciples who were with him. They immediately followed Jesus. John was sent to point the way to Jesus and that is what he did.

Jesus immediately knows the two are following him. He says to them, “What are you looking for?” Were they looking to see miracles? What questions did they have? Were they looking for something temporal or were they looking for faith?

They respond by asking, “Rabbi,…where are you staying?” They are not there just to spend a few minutes to see who this Jesus character is. They want to know where He is staying so that they can spend an extended time with him. How much time do you want to spend with the Lord?

Andrew was one of the two disciples that John pointed to Jesus that day. Andrew called Jesus, “Rabbi.” That means he recognized Jesus as a teacher. Andrew wanted to learn what Jesus had come to teach. Andrew also wanted to share Jesus with others. On that same day when Andrew meet Jesus, Andrew went and told his brother Simon Peter and “brought him to Jesus.”

We don’t have to learn everything about Jesus before we point him out to others. Sharing Jesus with others starts from the heart. As soon as Andrew encountered Jesus, he knew Jesus was the Messiah. He shared that with his brother Simon Peter.

It is important that we allow Jesus to be our teacher. He does not force his ways on us. We need to learn more about the ways of the Lord. It is a lifelong process. If we are not growing, then we are dying. We should never allow ourselves to become complacent in our faith or our faith will sli

p away. But we don’t have to learn everything before we begin to share Jesus with others.

In fact, sharing Jesus with others may be one of our best opportunities to learn more about Jesus. Sharing what we know about our faith can help us better understand it ourselves. I know for a fact that teaching about our faith is the way I most grow in my own faith and understanding.

Now, ask yourselves, “Are you serious about your faith?” In today’s responsorial verse we cry out, “Here am I Lord, I come to do your will?” In the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “thy will be done.” Do you mean it? Do you truly strive to do God’s Will?

If you answer “yes,” then what keeps you from doing God’s Will?

If you answer “no,” then, what is it that is more important to you than God? Why do you think your will is better than God’s?

For instance, some people want to separate the body from the soul. They think that what we do with our bodies in this world does not matter for eternity. Paul knows better when he writes, “The body is not immorality, but for the Lord.” What you do with your body, whether it be overeating, sexual immorality, abuse of drugs or alcohol does matter. Our bodies are a part of the gift from God of who we are.

Jesus is our teacher and more. Listen to what He says. Seek to do his will.

Peace,

Fr. Jeff

Filed under Discipleship, Sunday Reflections | Tagged 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, the call of Samuel | Comment