Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 14, 2024

Date:   2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19

Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, "Here I am." Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am. You called me." "I did not call you, " Eli said. "Go back to sleep." So, he went back to sleep. Again, the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. "Here I am, " he said. "You called me." But Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son. Go back to sleep."At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, "Here I am. You called me." Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, "Samuel, Samuel!" Samuel answered, "Speak, for your servant is listening."

Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The first reading for today comes from the 1st Book of Samuel and recounts the LORD’s call of Samuel as a young boy. Not understanding that it was the LORD calling his name, Samuel repeatedly went to Eli, thinking it was him who had called. When Eli finally recognized that it was the LORD who was waking Samuel by calling him, Eli told Samuel to respond the next time he heard his name called, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I recognize the LORD when He calls me?  

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, as we journey in faith, hope and love, grant that we may recognize your presence and your call to us. Help us to distinguish between the noise of the world, our own selfish desires, and your call to our souls for our own good. Give us, LORD, not only the gift of discernment but also the courage to follow You wherever You lead us. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.