Homily: Wednesday of the 1st week in Ordinary Time

Since Monday we’ve been reading from the Old testament book of first Samuel.  Over the next few weeks, we’ll be reading a lot from what are called the historical books of the Old Testament up until Lent: I & II Samuel, I & II Kings.  They present the lives of some pretty important characters in salvation history.  Samuel, Saul, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha.  Many "human" characters, with many "human faults"; characters who we can sympathize with, people, who have moments of great trust in the Lord, but often times of great selfishness.

Today, we heard the powerful reading of the call of Samuel.  There was Samuel sleeping in the temple of the Lord, God’s call rouses him out of slumber, but then he goes back to sleep, multiple times.  He was not familiar with the Lord.  In fact, even the last time, the only reason he responded with those beautiful words, “Speak ,for your servant is listening” is because Eli, the priest, told him what to say.

It is often difficult for us to hear God—we are spiritually hard-of-hearing.  This can be for a number of reasons: our sinful attachments often clog our ears; sometimes we don’t hear God because of our “lack of familiarity” with the Lord, like Samuel; sometimes it’s because we don’t want to listen because we are afraid of what God might ask of us.

The Lord had an important Word for Samuel, calling his name, calling him to service.  Sometimes, people ask me how to pray.  I often encourage them to go to a quiet room or come to the Church, take your bible and find a passage you would like to pray with.  Read through it a couple times to familiarize yourself with the text.  Then, speak those words of Samuel, “Speak, O Lord, your servant is listening”. 

Samuel goes on to play a very important role in the history of Israel; when Samuel spoke, all of Israel listen, but only because Samuel first listened to God.

May we be open to the Word God desires to speak to us, calling us into service, calling us to imitate his Son Jesus Christ ever more deeply, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.