Daily Readings - Sun Jan 14 2018
1 Samuel
3The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was.4Then the LORD called Samuel, and he said, "Here I am!"5and ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down.6And the LORD called again, "Samuel!" and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again."7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man.9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.10And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears."19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
1 Corinthians
13"Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"--and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.14And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!17But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.18Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,20for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
John
35The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,36and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"37The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.38Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"39He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.40One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.41He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).42He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter ).
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected narratives that guide us toward a deeper understanding of our relationship with God and our role as His followers. The first reading from 1 Samuel tells the story of young Samuel, who, despite his youth and inexperience, is attentive to God's call. Eli, recognizing the divine voice, mentors Samuel to respond with openness and humility. This story underscores the importance of spiritual receptivity and mentorship in our journey with God.
The second reading from 1 Corinthians shifts our focus to the sanctity of our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit. Paul emphasizes that our physical selves are not our own but belong to God, purchased at a great price. This calls us to a life of reverence and self-control, avoiding actions that dishonor God. The Gospel from John complements this by illustrating the transformative power of following Christ. John the Baptist's disciples, upon encountering Jesus, are drawn into a deeper relationship, leading to the inclusion of others, notably Simon Peter, who is renamed and transformed by Jesus.
These readings collectively remind us to be attentive to God's voice, to honor our bodies as sacred vessels, and to embrace the transformative power of following Christ. In our daily lives, this means cultivating a listening heart, caring for our bodies as temples of the Spirit, and inviting others to experience the love of Christ. May we, like Samuel, respond with willingness, and like the first disciples, bring others to the transformative encounter with Jesus, leading to a life of purpose and grace.