Scripture:
1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19
Psalm 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20
John 1:35-42
Reflection:
The theme of our scriptures today is how a disciple should respond to God’s invitation to better know him. The young Samuel was learning the ropes as it were of how to serve in the liturgy of temple where the ark of God reposed. As far as the priest Eli was concerned Samuel was just a helper and a gofer. Eli had two sons he was grooming to take his place. However, he was able to give his young apprentice the wisdom of his experience: "Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply: speak, LORD, for your servant is listening." I do not expect the LORD to speak so clearly to me. So if I am to listen to the LORD I must reflect on what is happening in my life and read the signs of the times in my personal situation.
Andrew was a disciple of John. We can be almost sure that he heard the message of the John the Baptist, underwent a deep spiritual conversion and was baptized by him in the River Jordan. When John pointed to Jesus as the Lamb of God, Andrew and a companion must have wondered what that title meant. They were curious enough to follow Jesus and stayed with him for most of the day. Spending those hours with Jesus turned their lives in a new direction. They were certain that they had found the Messiah! Andrew finds his brother Simon and brings him to Jesus who immediately accepts him and gives him a new name, the Rock. I need to be always ready to undertake new commitments. I should never be so attached to what I am doing now, that I never see new opportunities to serve the LORD.
Fr. Michael Hoolahan, C.P. is on the staff of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.