Daily Readings - Sun Jan 14 2018
First Reading - 1 Samuel 3.3b-10, 19
1 Samuel
3And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;4That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.5And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.6And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.8And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.9Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.10And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.19And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 6.13c-15a, 17-20
1 Corinthians
13Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Gospel - John 1.35-42
John
35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.
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.