Daily Readings - Sun Jan 14 2024

³And 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 ground

1 Corinthians

Chapter 6

¹³Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food. But God shall destroy both the stomach and food. And the body is not for fornication, but rather for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body¹⁴Truly, God has raised up the Lord, and he will raise us up by his power¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are a part of Christ? So then, should I take a part of Christ and make it a part of a harlot? Let it not be so¹⁷But whoever is joined to the Lord is one spirit¹⁸Flee from fornication. Every sin whatsoever that a man commits is outside of the body, but whoever fornicates, sins against his own body¹⁹Or do you not know that your bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own²⁰For you have been bought at a great price. Glorify and carry God in your body

John

Chapter 1

³⁵The next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples³⁶And catching sight of Jesus walking, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God.³⁷And two disciples were listening to him speaking. And they followed Jesus³⁸Then Jesus, turning around and seeing them following him, said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi (which means in translation, Teacher), where do you live?³⁹He said to them, "Come and see." They went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour⁴⁰And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard about him from John and had followed him⁴¹First, he found his brother Simon, and he said to him, "We have found the Messiah," (which is translated as the Christ)⁴²And he led him to Jesus. And Jesus, gazing at him, said: "You are Simon, son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas," (which is translated as Peter)

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us on a journey of faith, purity, and discipleship. The first reading from 1 Samuel illustrates Samuel's call by God, highlighting the importance of discernment and responsiveness. Samuel, though initially unaware, learns to recognize God's voice through Eli's guidance, demonstrating that listening to God requires openness and mentorship. This story reminds us that God's call can come in unexpected ways, and our willingness to listen is crucial. The second reading from 1 Corinthians emphasizes the sanctity of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. Paul urges us to avoid immorality, reminding us that our bodies are not our own but belong to God. This call to purity is not just about avoiding sin but about honoring God in every aspect of our lives. It challenges us to reflect on how our actions align with our commitment to follow Christ, ensuring that our lives are a testament to His presence within us. The Gospel from John recounts the initial disciples' encounter with Jesus, where they respond to His invitation to "come and see." This simple yet profound invitation leads to a transformative experience, as seen in Andrew's eagerness to share the Good News with his brother Peter. Jesus' renaming of Peter symbolizes the new identity and purpose that come from following Him. This narrative underscores the importance of invitation and the transformative power of discipleship. These readings collectively invite us to embrace a life of attentiveness, purity, and active faith. By listening to God's call, honoring our bodies as His temples, and responding to Jesus' invitation, we embark on a journey of transformation. May we, like Samuel, Peter, and the first disciples, be open to God's voice, live with integrity, and joyfully share the Gospel with others, allowing His presence to shape our lives and actions.