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. Samuel answered, "Here I am."5And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.6Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me.My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."7Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.8The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.9So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.10The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."19The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.
1 Corinthians
13"Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"--but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.14By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never!17But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
John
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.36When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"37When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.38Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"39"Come," he replied, "and you will see." So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.40Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, "We have found the Messiah" (that is, the Christ).42And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which, when translated, is 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.