Daily Readings - Wed Jan 10 2024
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of listening to God’s call, trusting in His plan, and living out our faith in service to others. In the first reading, we encounter the young Samuel, who is still learning to discern the voice of the Lord. Though he is unsure at first, Eli’s guidance helps him recognize God’s call, and he responds with openness and humility. This passage reminds us that God speaks to us in various ways, and we must cultivate the ability to listen and trust in His providence. Samuel’s journey from uncertainty to faithful service is a powerful reminder that God can use anyone, regardless of age or experience, to fulfill His purposes.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus actively living out His mission of healing and preaching. He heals Peter’s mother-in-law, and soon the entire town gathers at His doorstep, seeking healing and liberation from demons. Jesus’ actions demonstrate His compassion and authority, and they reveal the heart of His mission: to bring light and life to a world in need. His early rising to pray before continuing His ministry also teaches us the importance of prayer as the foundation of our service to others. Like Jesus, we are called to be instruments of God’s love and healing in the lives of those around us.
These readings challenge us to examine our own lives. Are we like Samuel, open to hearing God’s voice and willing to respond? Or do we often miss His call because we are distracted or unsure? Like Jesus, are we willing to step out in faith, using the gifts and resources we have to serve others? Today, let us ask for the grace to listen more deeply to God’s voice and to live with the same compassion and purpose that Jesus showed. May we, like Samuel and Jesus, be faithful in our response to God’s call and generous in our love for others.