 |
|
January 18, 2009 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) by Timothy Schehr 1 Samuel 3:3-19 X 1 Corinthians 6:13-20 X John 1:35-42
In the readings for this Sunday we find model examples of people who listen to God. Our first example is the prophet Samuel. He became such a leader of faith that two books of the Bible bear his name! As the reading begins we meet Samuel at the very beginning of his glorious career. He is a youngster sleeping in the temple of the Lord. But as the rest of the reading makes quite clear, Samuel turns out to be someone who is very much awake spiritually. Already he can hear the word of God calling out to him. Only because of his lack of experience does he think he must be hearing his teacher, the elder priest Eli, calling out to hm. But Samuel is a quick learner. When the reading ends Samuel has just the right response. He says “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And listening to God is something Samuel did for the rest of his life. As the book tells us Samuel would not let any word from God be without effect in his life. If only that could have been said about so many others in the Bible! Even the family of Eli, Samuel’s mentor in this reading, did not listen to the word of the Lord as well as they should. It time they would all be removed from office for not remaining loyal servants of God. Our next examples of good listening come from the gospel for this Sunday. As the passage begins John the Baptist is standing with two of his disciples. We learn that one of the two disciples was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter. Who was the other disciple? Perhaps it was John, the son of Zebedee and the author of the Fourth Gospel according to tradition. John the Baptist is a fine example of someone who listened to God. He never let himself get in the way. As we already know from the Prologue to this gospel (Jn 1-18) John the Baptist gave witness to the light. He was not the light. But he gave witness to it. When he gives such witness in this gospel reading the two disciples hear what he says and follow Jesus. For the present their interest seems to be curiosity more than anything else. They want to know where Jesus stays. Jesus invites them to see and they stay with him that day. But that one day had a powerful impact on them. John even notes what time of day it was when they first followed Jesus—four in the afternoon. When John’s gospel notes the time this way it seems to mark a point of time significant for the journey of faith. That is certainly true in this case. After one day Andrew is already tracking down his brother Simon to tell him about Jesus. It seems they have listened well to the Lord’s testimony about his reason for coming into the world. Andrew tells his brother Simon that they have found the Messiah. Simon was interested enough to allow Andrew to bring him to Jesus. Jesus announces that Simon will one day carry the name Peter. And with that detail another fascinating narrative begins as we discover how Simon Peter learned to listen to God. A final example of listening can be found in the apostle Paul. He learned to set his own agendas aside and listen to God. In the second reading he writes to his spiritual brothers and sisters in the city of Corinth. He wants them to become good listeners too. They have heard the gospel and through baptism they now belong to Christ. They should think of themselves connected to the Lord in a special way. |
||||||
|
6616 Beechmont Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45230
Archdiocese of Cincinnati FAQs Site Index Contact Us
|