Daily Readings - Wed Jan 15 2020
1 Samuel
1Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord before Eli, and the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no manifest vision2Then it happened that, on a certain day, Eli was lying in his place. And his eyes had dimmed, so that he was unable to see3And so, to prevent the lamp of God from going out, Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was4And the Lord called Samuel. And responding, he said, "Here I am.5And he ran to Eli, and he said, "Here I am. For you called me." And he said: "I did not call. Return and sleep." And he went away, and he slept6And again, the Lord continued to call to Samuel. And rising up, Samuel went to Eli, and he said: "Here I am. For you called me." And he responded: "I did not call you, my son. Return and sleep.7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not been revealed to him8And the Lord continued, and he called to Samuel still a third time. And rising up, he went to Eli9And he said: "Here I am. For you called me." Then Eli understood that the Lord had called the boy. And he said to Samuel: "Go and sleep. And if he calls to you from now on, you will say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ " Therefore, Samuel went away, and he slept in his place10And the Lord came, and stood, and he called, just as he had called the other times, "Samuel, Samuel." And Samuel said, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.19And Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, and not one of his words fell to the ground20And all of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, knew Samuel to be a faithful prophet of the Lord
Mark
29And soon after departing from the synagogue, they went into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John30But the mother-in-law of Simon lay ill with a fever. And at once they told him about her31And drawing near to her, he raised her up, taking her by the hand. And immediately the fever left her, and she ministered to them32Then, when evening arrived, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who had maladies and those who had demons33And the entire city was gathered together at the door34And he healed many who were troubled with various illnesses. And he cast out many demons, but he would not permit them to speak, because they knew him35And rising up very early, departing, he went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed36And Simon, and those who were with him, followed after him37And when they had found him, they said to him, "For everyone is seeking you.38And he said to them: "Let us go into the neighboring towns and cities, so that I may preach there also. Indeed, it was for this reason that I came.39And he was preaching in their synagogues and throughout all of Galilee, and casting out demons
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our response to His call. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of the young Samuel, who, while serving in the temple, hears God's voice. Initially unsure, Samuel learns to recognize and respond faithfully, marking the beginning of his prophetic journey. The Gospel from Mark presents Jesus, who, after healing Peter's mother-in-law, dedicates the evening to healing many and rises early to pray, demonstrating His commitment to His divine mission.
Both readings highlight the theme of responding to God's call with faith and dedication. Samuel's story illustrates the importance of discernment and obedience, as he transitions from uncertainty to confident service. Similarly, Jesus' actions in Mark show His unwavering commitment to His mission, balancing compassionate service with prayerful reflection. These narratives remind us that God's call can come in various forms, requiring us to be attentive and responsive.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to cultivate a listening heart, open to God's voice. Like Samuel, we may face moments of uncertainty, but through prayer and discernment, we can grow in faith. Jesus' example teaches us the value of compassion and the necessity of prayer in staying focused on our mission. As we navigate our own callings, may we embrace God's plan with trust and serve others with love, remembering that our response to God's call is both a privilege and a responsibility. Let us strive to be attentive, faithful, and compassionate, walking in the footsteps of Samuel and Jesus.